Jane’s story
In the longer-term I want to live as long as I possibly can and be as healthy as I possibly can. Quitting smoking is the best thing I ever did.
Jane, from Wigan, quit smoking after a bad case of flu and has now inspired her partner Donna to stop smoking too.
Being an ex-smoker is ‘liberating’ for Jane Shannon, who quit after a bad case of flu. Jane’s success inspired her partner Donna to stop smoking too and now they are enjoying better health together.
Jane, who lives in the Swinley area of Wigan, was always very sporty and smoking never crossed her mind. It was only when she started sixth-form that she began ‘dabbling’ with cigarettes.
She said: “In sixth-form you have this new-found freedom and seeing grown-ups smoking makes you think it’s a ‘cool’ thing to do. Being out in the pubs goes hand-in-hand with smoking so it was something I just slipped into. You always convince yourself you’re OK and can quit at any time.
It was when I started wheezing when going uphill that I thought I’m probably killing myself and need to do something about this. But it’s difficult to stop.
“My partner Donna and I love going on trips in our campervan and we’d been skiing with friends when one of the guys got really bad flu. It was after returning home, Donna and I came down with flu too. I felt terrible and thought I was dying at one point. As soon as I started to feel better, I reached for the cigarettes. Then stopped myself and asked ‘You’ve not smoked for two days – why start now?’
I decided to try another day and it just went on from there until I decided I wasn’t going to continue. It took Donna another six months to quit but after seeing me do it she believed she could too. Being an ex-smoker is liberating.
“Overall, my health is much better. In the longer-term I want to live as long as I possibly can and be as healthy as I possibly can. Quitting smoking is the best thing I ever did. And If I can do it anyone can.”
