My battle with nicotine began at age 12 in a home where cigarettes were always within reach. Years of addiction followed, leading to an early-onset COPD diagnosis and the loss of six family members to smoking-related diseases. Quitting was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but with support from a local tobacco treatment specialist, I finally became smoke-free on May 17, 2016. That journey fueled my passion to help others break free from this dangerous and deadly cycle.