Breathing Easy

I went to the Pulmonologist yesterday to get his letter of medical clearance for the surgery. Got it. However, it was not easy. Oh, I easily passed all the tests. But he was thorough! After waiting an hour and 15 minutes to see him he spent almost an hour with me. I did a breathing test in his office and went to out-patient lab at the hospital to draw blood from an artery to check the gas in my blood. I knew had gas, but never knew it was even in my blood! Anyway, about 4 hours later, he said OK and will send his letter to the surgeon.

This is the first time I have had any breathing tests. I was pleased that I passed so easily since I learned to smoke at age 8 and struggled with it most of my adolescent and adult life. I probably smoked cigarettes or cigars a total of 15-20 years. I had long periods of not smoking, starting when I was 17 and not resuming until I was 28 or 29. Then I smoked for several years, then quit again only to start again the day our son was killed and continued until after the turn of the century. I never smoked more than a pack a day except on rare occasions. For some of those years I smoked far less than a pack a day. I have not smoked at all in at least 7 years and plan to never smoke again. In fact, for the first time in my life, I detest the smell of tobacco smoke. Anyway, it was good to get the "all clear" after the years of abuse of my lungs.

How different the world is today than when I was a child. Everyone (almost) smoked or used snuff or chewing tobacco. Those who did not use were notable exceptions. I smoked my first cigarette at 8 years of age. Most of my friends were smoking by the age of ten or eleven. My doctor smoked. I knew preachers that smoked. The famous pastor of Atlanta First Methodist Church was known for his cigars. My sainted grandmother and grandfather used snuff and Papa smoked cigars and chewed tobacco. My dad smoked at least 2 packs a day. A pack of cigarettes cost $0.25. Cigars were $0.05. Available. Cheap. Acceptable. Normal. Highly Addictive. No wonder I got addicted to what former Surgeon General Everett Koop calls a substance "more addictive than cocaine."

I am thankful to be free of that aditction (today) and breathing easy. Thank the Lord for grace.

Now to tame the tiger that still controls my life. More to come about that...