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Title: "Fortunate To Be Alive To Tell About It!"
Message 20 of 50 in Discussion
From: kito40 (Kim)
Sent: 6/26/2002 7:25 PM

First of all Thank-you John for asking me to share my story. If it helps people realize that smoking does kill then it was well worth it. Nobody is invincible from the harm smoking causes. Hang on to those quits everyone, and for you Lurkers out there............now is the time!

Richard? Do you have an extra hankie for Kelly?

Title: "Fortunate To Be Alive To Tell About It!
Message 35 of 50 in Discussion
From: kito40 (Kim)
Sent: 7/11/2002 9:04 PM

There are a couple of things that have come up in this thread that I would like to touch on:

1. Lexi, you mentioned a dull pain in your upper shoulder. Please go and get an X-ray. Both my friend and I had that same pain before we were diagnosed with lung cancer.

2. txsmama, you say your mother has a small spot on her lung. Another friend of mine's mother had a small spot show up on her lung. They monitered it for over a year before it started to grow. They ended up removing part of her lung. She is now cancer free.

Boy, alot of cancer around me eh?

3. And David, thank-you............ beautiful? :) you made my day!

4. And I'll say it again!!!! For all you Lurkers..........."NOW IS THE TIME"

Thanks for all your replies!!!

Title: 5 Months Today!!!!
From: kito40 (Kim)
Sent: 8/7/2002 10:47 AM

I know I haven't been here much lately. First off my computer modem went and I didn't have it for a week and I have been spending time at a cottage my sister and friends rented. Also summer time there is so much to do.....................I do come and read some even though I don't post. So congratulations all you colour changers and newbies you are all doing great. I do reply to all my e-mails I receive via my web page.

Anyways, today marks the 5 month anniversary that I was told I had lung cancer and it has also been 5 months since I put a cigarette to my mouth. The time has just flown by, its hard to believe its been that long.

My recovery from surgery has been great. There is one tiny spot left on the incision line and that will be gone shortly. I took my last heart pill yesterday and everything seems fine. Everyone says how good I look and they would never know what I have been through. I put on my jeans last night (my big pair) and boy they are tight.......lol

What I'm really proud of is, that I have not smoked for 5 months and I rarely think about it anymore. I even went to an outdoor concert and drank quite a bit and the next day I thought, "I never even thought about a smoke last night", which proves the fact that it really does get easier!
It won't be long until silver arrives now and I will be there with my pass to board the liner.........

5 Months today!
"Fortunate To Be Alive To Tell About It!" ..............my webpage

Title: STERLING SILVER !!!!!
From: kito40 (Kim)
Sent: 9/6/2002 7:06 PM

It's hard to believe that 6 months has past since my life changed forever. It changed not only because I quit smoking but because I was diagnosed with lung cancer. (For those of you who don't know of me or my history please visit my webpage ->"Fortunate To Be Alive To Tell About It!" )

Because of this crisis happening to me, it has inspired others to give up their nicotine addiction. My sister Kelly quit the same day I did and her husband soon followed. I said to my husband not long ago "My 6 month Anniversary would be a good day for you to quit too." I'll just wait and see what happens.

A couple I hardly know came into my place of business just to see how I was doing after surgery. She told me her quit was going well but her husband was having some difficult times with his. I asked them when they had quit smoking and they said "the day of your surgery." I was quite touched by that.

I receive a fair amount of e-mail from my webpage and from what I'm told it has inspired many or has helped them from relapsing. Good to hear that!!
As for my health, I'm certainly not up to par yet, actually I'm far from it. I had to cancel my annual canoe trip this year because there was no way I could have paddled for 2 days.

I go for my 6 month cat scan next week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'm still cancer free. I'll never forget my mother saying how lucky I am and how she couldn't imagine what life would be like without me. Scary thought!!
Last but not least "FREEDOM"......it's the education and support that makes this site what it is today. I wish I had been this educated years ago. (Silly how we think its just a nasty little habit) Oh and don't let me forget the great people here too!!!

Ok, I have rambled enough........Let the party begin!!!!!

Kim

6 Months Free

Title: STERLING SILVER !!!!!
Message 34 of 34 in Discussion
From: kito40 - Gold Sent: 9/11/2002 12:06 PM

Thank-you all for your Congratulations on this Silver Milestone! Your words of care and concern are greatly appreciated. I know I have inspired many of you and so sharing my story with you all has made it worthwhile.

A lady came in my store yesterday and told me her father just found out he had unoperable lung cancer and another 41 year old just died of cancer. I am so very lucky!

So all you Lurkers out there, nobody is free from the consequences of smoking, it takes its toll on all of us. Now is the time to quit and we are the people to help you!!!

Kim...............6 Months Free and Healing!

"Don't pay big $$$ to slowly kill yourself !"

Title: TOTALLY GROSSED OUT
Message 5 of 10 in Discussion
From: kito40 (Kim)
Sent: 10/27/2002 12:14 PM

My husband and I were with Kelly last evening at the restaurant. This guy sat down and let out a cough and I said to Kelly, he smokes. I can tell a smoker's cough anytime. Then he lights up a smoke and he starts, just like Kelly describes above..... it was GROSS! Take a puff, cough, cough, cough, take a puff etc. I really wished we had business cards cause I definately would have given him one.

I checked out the ones that Nora gave, but they are not compatible with my computer (those had 8 per page, mine prints 10). So I made my own.....

Front Back

They look really good printed out on Business Card paper! Think they will get the message across?

Kim.............7 Months + Free

Title: TOTALLY GROSSED OUT
Message 9 of 10 in Discussion
From: headbo (Kelly)
Sent: 10/28/2002 8:52 PM

John -

Kim printed me a few cards and I must say I was impressed at how good they look. I haven't given any out yet, but I won't be embarrassed to do so. I think I need to vary mine a bit because the back says "this is me . . . " etc. and, of course, it isn't me, but we are working on a variation for me.

I remember being in a restaurant (with Kim actually) a few years back and some guy came up to us and told us about the horrors of smoking. He said he'd rather see us smoking marijuana -- at least it was natural. It didn't have much of an impact on me then, but I don't recall thinking he was an idiot or anything.

I think giving them out is a good idea or just leaving them at tables somewhere. I tell alot of people about this website and how great it is. If I had a card, at least they could come here at their leisure and not wonder "what was the address of that website she told me about".

Kelly
7 1/2 months +

From: kito40 (Kim)
Sent in response to Message 6 Sent: 12/17/2002 4:53 PM
[Note: below Kim responds to a quitter battling irritability]

Hang in there Chook.............I know this is hard to accept when you are feeling this way, but believe us when we say "IT GETS BETTER" cause it does. It really does!!!

P.S.......you are normal and you look wonderful in Green and you will look even more fabulous in Bronze! just hang in there!

9 Months +

Title: TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
Message 22 of 41 in Discussion
From: headbo (Kelly) Sent: 12/21/2002 10:35 AM

Your warm wishes and prayers are accepted with wide, open arms. They worked for us the last time and they will work again this time.

Joel, when I said "Too good to be true", I meant that she could have her lung removed with no further treatment like chemo or radiation and that would be the end of our cancer experience. I know people do survive cancer and in fact I do know a few who have and now I am going to know one more. I believe a positive attiude is half the battle so we're already half way to beating it. I guess we were just confident that she had beat it and that it was over and done with.

Newbies or anyone else missing their cigarettes, quitting smoking is a piece of cake compared to what you might have to deal with later. You may think quitting is unbearable, but withdrawal does go away and you eventually come to a point where you don't even think about smoking. I wish I was dealing with the early days of a quit instead of this and I know Kim is too.

Don't think for one minute that Kim or myself feel like smoking. That is the last thing on our minds. We both know that it won't solve our situation and it will only make things worse. In fact, we just shake our heads when we see people smoking wishing they would educate themselves. After all, education is the key to success and this site gets all credit for that.

John, sometime down the road, the web page will have to be revised. Maybe a long P.S. can be added or maybe a Part I and Part II. In any event, the title WILL NOT CHANGE.

I wish everyone a healthy, happy and peaceful holiday.

I'll keep you posted and thanks again,

Kelly