Dear Editor,
The holidays are just around the corner and, some people are eagerly anticipating Black Friday, and finding bargains to show their loved ones how much they care. It occurred to me that some of the best gifts I have received have been priceless: a hug from a family member, the pride of seeing loved ones achieve their goals, or time spent engaged
Letter to the editor:in warm fellowship with family and friends. These are the gifts that matter.
Along those lines, with all the information and data out about the negative effects of cigarette smoking, particularly for pregnancy moms and their babies, why not consider giving your loved ones the unique gift of a commitment to stop smoking? Given the negative impact of cigarette
smoking and second hand, that gift ranks up there as one of those priceless gifts.
If you have ever watched a baby struggle for breathe because of asthma or emphysema, exacerbated by cigarette smoke, or witnessed a loved one lie in a hospital bed slowly diminishing because of lung cancer brought on by
smoking cigarettes or second hand smoke, you have a greater appreciation for giving the gift of fresh air. In the case of pregnant moms, babies have a better chance a healthier delivery and life if moms do not smoke and are not exposed to second hand cigarette smoke.
As an active volunteer with the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention & Poverty Network (WTPPN), I encourage cigarette smokers to give your loved ones a y season–commit to quit and give them the gift of fresh air!
Sincerely,
Patricia Anderson-Wilson
Family Support Worker
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. and the Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center
8200 W. Silver Spring Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53218
panderson-wilson@mhsi.org | (414) 267-6636
