I don’t want to be writing this. It makes it real.
I miss my mom so much; I don’t want it to be real.
I’m Carol. My mom died of cancer caused by a lifetime of smoking. She started smoking even before the Surgeon General’s notice went on a pack of cigarettes. By the time she knew that cigarettes are addictive and knew more about the harm they cause, she was addicted.
My mom died at 68 years old, and I can’t even begin to count how many times she tried to quit because it was so frequent. She wanted to quit. Badly. But tobacco addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to break.
She had 7 grandchildren, all under 7 years old when she passed. She never got to see them grow up. My kids were too young to remember her.
The tobacco industry took the most influential person in my life away from me!
I am so mad. Before she was addicted, she was bombarded with messages that said “tobacco isn’t harmful”.
My mom was such a strong woman, but she couldn’t fight off the tobacco industry. I am even more mad that even today the tobacco industry tries to hide that nicotine is addictive (by fighting accurate and noticeable warning labels). How can they get away with that?
Other people I love still smoke too. I do my best to educate them. But again, the addiction is so powerful.
I proud to work at ASH so I can help those addicted to nicotine. I am proud to fight Big Tobacco! I encourage you to join our shared fight.
If you can, please make a donation today in honor of your family.
