Douglas C

Douglas C., AR

I would like to share something my wife Janet Lynn wrote six months before her death on January 10, 2021 from emphysema. If it can save one life we would be grateful. Janet wrote this to smokers.

Message to smokers:

I still have many things I long to do and see and be part of.

That I will not.

My future is so much shorter than it needed to be.

So much not ahead of me.

Because I chose suicide on the installment plan..

One cigarette at a time.

It's been over a decade since I had my first major emphysema event.

And I did quit.

And start again.

Repeatedly.

10 yrs is a long death.

And it becomes harder now with every breath.

We all know people who smoked and lived into old. . . some even very old, age.

I guess we all believe we will be one of them.

Some . . . many . . . won't . . .

And you cannot take that decision back when you find you aren't one of those lucky ones.

If just one person reads this,

And decides to take themselves out of the game of Russian Roulette that smoking is,

My lost years will have some meaning, at least.

Do not underestimate the sweetness of that next easy breath.

The alternative is not an easy death.

I hope this reaches someone.

This was written by my beautiful bride Janet Lynn, she passed away from emphysema on January 10th, 2021 at the age of 60.

First Published: June 22, 2021

Asthma Educator Institute
, | Jul 11, 2015