How It Started

I began smoking in 1972 at the age of 16 — as I was a rebellious teenager who fell into peer pressure.

I went into the military straight out of high school. It fueled the habit because while serving my country, I saw atrocities that no person should see. Smoking helped me cope.

I then kept it up for 51 years.

Tries and Failures

I tried to quit for 30 years off and on, and the biggest problem was the recommendations for use of smoking cessation aids only went up to six weeks. That wasn’t enough time for me to break the habit.

Moving ahead, I had an amputation scheduled in 2022, and I quit for a little while to prepare for the amputation. Soon after, I had a heart attack, and, at that point, I realized I had to quit for good.

A Search for Quit With WakeMed

With all the willpower I could muster, I launched on a campaign to quit. In December 2022, I went on the WakeMed MyChart site and found Quit With WakeMed. I decided to go ahead and give it a try. I saw the options for providers, and I selected Jessica Revels, RN, FNP, because she looked like someone I could talk to.

Out the gate, I wanted her to be successful, so I explained my background in the military and work with addicts. I knew the ideas she would bring up to help me stop because of my work, so I knew the excuses. I wanted her to know this, so she’d know who she was dealing with and would hold me accountable.

Revels informed me that I could use smoking cessation aids as long as needed. My treatment involved a combination of patches, good information, a positive outlook and great support.

Revels was very personable, knowledgeable and supportive, and I enjoyed frequent calls with her for four months until mid-April 2023. In that time, I learned to exercise self-control, and my recovery went quickly. I smoked my last cigarette in March 2023, and I have not smoked a cigarette  in nine months. And, should I need Revels, the door is still open to call for support.

A New Lease on Life

Thankfully, I’m doing well. I still desire to smoke, but I resist it.

I would encourage others to try Quit With WakeMed. Once you take that first step, the ones that follow get easier and easier. I continue my mentorship work with the court system, and because I quit, I feel more empowered to help people break their addictions.

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 About Quit With WakeMed — Tobacco Cessation Program