[magwrit1]

Cigarettes here in New York State are now ranging from $7 and change to $10 a pack! I finally quit on February 9, 2008, after a painful process of trying again and again. Chantix helped me enormously, but when my doctor told me he wasn't going to renew it again--and that the next battle with cancer would be tougher than what I've already survived--that helped.

The other challenge was in my recognizing that I was smoking to deny ongoing respiratory problems I had. (I had asthma and bronchitis. Now I also have COPD.) Once I understood my effort to deny the health issues, I was able to reject the excuses and stay on my path. Thankfully, my doctors saved my life so I was able to have a second chance at living!

Keep going, Reesie! If I can help in any way without nagging, feel free to reach out to me.