www.kieranscott.net True Love Trilogy other books contact  
the cheerleader trilogy author reviews
news pen names
she's so dead to us
 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Smoking Sucks

Well, I've completely tanked on my resolution to blog at least once a week, but I kind of knew that was going to happen when I made said resolution. The problem is, every time I try to think about what to write about, I don't know if I should write something personal or try to come up with something more shallow, so as not to put my real life out there for people to read an analyze and talk about. But lately there's been one personal thing dominating my thoughts so much I can't really think about anything else. So I've decided to write about it.

My mom is in the hospital for the sixth time in two years. She's only 66. I know that sounds ancient to a lot of people, but it's not. Or it shouldn't be. Not in this day and age. But right now, if you met my mom, who used to be the strongest, feistiest, funniest, most engaging person I know, you'd think she was 99. And all because she could never quit smoking.

Here's the thing. Everyone knows smoking is bad, but when you're told that in high school and you're shown the pictures of the dirty lungs or the corroded heart or whatever you think "Yeah, whatever, that's not gonna happen to me." Which makes sense. You feel invincible when you're young, and I get that. And part of me thinks kids deserve to feel that. But it's also kind of stupid. Because none of us are invincible. And those pictures of dirty lungs and corroded hearts are stupid, too, because it doesn't translate into anything real. You don't know--you can't FEEL how having those symptoms will really affect your life. So let me tell you what I've seen my mom go through lately.

In 2000 she came down with throat cancer due to smoking. The chemo and radiation saved her life, temporarily, but we now know that they also started a slow deterioration process in her neck. A few years after the treatment she started getting severe laryngitis for about six weeks each winter. Then, she started having trouble eating. She couldn't swallow properly. Food would go down the wrong way and she'd choke. At first this was once in a while, but over the years it became more frequent to the point that she can't eat a meal without choking about every fifteen seconds. And no, I'm not exaggerating. Just imagine trying to get through a cheeseburger or even a bowl of Cheerios while choking into a paper towel every fifteen seconds. Not fun.

Meanwhile, thanks to the radiation damage AND the fact that her arteries are all clogged from the smoking, she had a stroke in August and now she can't walk without a walker or cane. Then, last Thursday, she fainted in the bathroom and slammed her head on the wall and passed out and she's been in the hospital ever since.

What we've now learned is she has pneumonia because food got in her lungs and irritated them and they got infected. She has low blood pressure from the clogged arteries and low oxygen from the pneumonia, so she's on an oxygen tank. She can't eat anymore, so they're going to insert a feeding tube into her abdomen so that food can be directly inserted into her stomach. So here we have a 66 year old woman, who a year ago was vibrant and happy and she

a) can't talk
b) can't eat
c) can't breathe on her own
d) can't walk on her own
e) can't be left alone because she might faint and
f) is severely depressed (as you might imagine)

Part of me wishes I could bring everyone I know who smokes into her room to talk to her and see if she says she doesn't regret smoking. I know it's so hard to stop, but God, if you could feel the way she's felt for the last five days even for five minutes, I bet you would work your ass off to quit. So do me a favor people, don't start. Because I don't want anyone else I care about to go through this. Ever.

And I thought putting this down in words would make me feel better, but it didn't. Probably because I love my mom so much this is killing me. And my sister. And all her friends. It just sucks.

5 Comments:

Blogger Allie said...

I'm so sorry about your mother, that's so sad. People really don't realize how truly harmful smoking is. Thanks for sharing with us.

February 25, 2012 at 1:37 AM  
Blogger chenlina said...

chenlina20151217
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton handbags
cheap uggs
cheap uggs
ugg boots
oakley sunglasses cheap
louis vuitton
ugg boots outlet
louis vuitton outlet online
michael kors outlet
michaek kors outlet
gucci shoes
louis vuitton purses
ugg boots
uggs on sale
ray ban sunglasses
ugg boots on sale
cheap jordans
michael kors outlet online
ray bans
ralph lauren outlet
ugg boots sale
cheap ugg boots
north face jackets
coach factory outlet
michaek kors outlet online
coach factory outlet online
louis vuitton outlet
chanel bags
nike roshe run women
air max 90
gucci outlet
canada goose jackets
michael kors outlet
adidas originals
toms wedges
giuseppe zanotti
tiffany and co
canada goose outlet
louis vuitton outlet
as

December 17, 2015 at 1:21 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

ninest123 16.03
longchamp outlet, uggs on sale, uggs on sale, uggs outlet, oakley sunglasses, louboutin uk, nike air max, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, nike free, tiffany jewelry, michael kors outlet online, tiffany jewelry, michael kors outlet online, replica watches, oakley sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, cheap jordans, nike air max, louis vuitton outlet online, oakley sunglasses, burberry outlet, ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin, uggs outlet, michael kors, burberry factory outlet, ralph lauren polo, christian louboutin, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors handbags, gucci handbags, replica watches, longchamp outlet, prada outlet, tory burch outlet, louis vuitton outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, uggs on sale, louboutin shoes, prada handbags, longchamp bags, nike outlet, louis vuitton, michael kors outlet online, ray ban sunglasses

March 3, 2016 at 8:07 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

michael kors outlet online, polo ralph lauren uk, ralph lauren pas cher, nike air max, michael kors uk, hermes pas cher, true religion outlet, true religion jeans, polo lacoste pas cher, coach purses, coach outlet store online, north face pas cher, lululemon outlet, true religion outlet, lunette ray ban pas cher, hogan sito ufficiale, nike blazer pas cher, nike roshe uk, michael kors, timberland pas cher, nike air max pas cher, true religion outlet, burberry pas cher, nike roshe run pas cher, lunette oakley pas cher, nike tn pas cher, nike air max uk, abercrombie and fitch, nike air force, new balance, jordan pas cher, replica handbags, north face uk, ray ban uk, michael kors, nike air max uk, sac guess pas cher, converse, hollister uk, vans pas cher, louboutin pas cher, longchamp soldes, longchamp pas cher, nike free pas cher, mulberry uk, coach outlet, nike free, vanessa bruno pas cher, abercrombie and fitch UK

March 3, 2016 at 8:10 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

pandora charms, moncler jackets, toms shoes, swarovski uk, moncler uk, barbour, replica watches, canada goose, marc jacobs, links of london uk, supra shoes, louis vuitton uk, converse shoes outlet, moncler outlet, swarovski jewelry, canada goose outlet, coach outlet, moncler pas cher, ugg pas cher, thomas sabo uk, canada goose outlet, louis vuitton, sac louis vuitton, moncler, barbour jackets uk, juicy couture outlet, pandora jewelry, montre pas cher, canada goose jackets, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, moncler, canada goose jackets, louis vuitton, ray ban, hollister, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, canada goose uk, bottes ugg pas cher, moncler, juicy couture outlet, canada goose pas cher, sac louis vuitton, lancel, pandora jewelry, moncler, ugg uk, wedding dresses uk, karen millen uk, pandora uk, canada goose, gucci
ninest123 16.03

March 3, 2016 at 8:15 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home