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Hi. I'm Tricia Hoffman -
Miss Central Louisiana 2003,
and I am using this website to talk about my platform
"TEENAGERS AND CIGARETTES - HEALTHY CHOICES FOR HEALTHY LIVES".
My name is Tricia Hoffman and I am promoting my platform, "Teenagers and Cigarettes - Healthy Choices For Healthy Lives." I want to encourage teenagers to "BE STRONG" and "SAY NO" to smoking because if they don't it can lead to ILLNESS or the LOSS OF LIFE!!
At the age of "12", my mother picked up her first cigarette not knowing it could possibly change her life forever - IT DID. She continued smoking and when she was "22", she was diagnosed with LARYNX CANCER as a result of the smoking at such an EARLY age. When this happened she felt SCARED and ALONE. She was afraid the cancer would take over her body! She ended up having her voice box removed and had to learn how to talk all over again. She also decided that, if she lived, she would want to have children, so she did not take radiation or chemotherapy for fear it would disfigure any children she would have. There are many other risks that my mother had to take and there are so many things that she is not able to do because of her surgery.
Can you imagine being unable to swim if it is one of your favorite activities? She grew up on the beach and swimming was a BIG part of her life. She had been in the choir when she was in school, but she will NEVER AGAIN enjoy the pleasure of singing a song. What if you just wanted to have a pleasant conversation at dinner or go to a party? Sorry, it is almost impossible to have a conversation where there is any noise.
Can you imagine having your voice box REMOVED and then at the age of "22", in front of all of your friends, use what is called an "Electolarynx?" It is a device that you put to your throat and, while it vibrates, you move your lips to make words and sentences. It sounds VERY MECHANICAL and calls a lot of attention to the person using it. Can you imagine trying to get used to being STARED AT just because of the way you talk? My mom has learned "Esophageal Speech" which means she injects air with her tongue into her esophagus and speaks on the air when it comes back out. Although she uses Esophageal Speech very well, people STILL STARE sometimes and she still gets comments about her "hoarse" voice.
You see, when you look at my mom you can't really tell anything ever happened. But as soon as she SPEAKS, you know that something has happened to her. Something VERY serious. I personally can't imagine living with a "stoma" (hole) in my neck to breathe through. She has to keep it covered so that impurities will stay out of her lungs. In the winter, when it gets real cold and dry, her lungs get dry and "chapped" inside and sometimes she coughs up blood. It isn't life threatening but it is PAINFUL. And in the summer, when it is hot and the humidity is high, she feels like she can't breath and doesn't go outside for long periods of time.
There are so many more SACRIFICES and ADJUSTMENTS that my mother has had to make because of her POOR JUDGEMENT in her youth. Her life may have been MUCH DIFFERENT. When she was in college, she had dreams of becoming an attorney. Not only did she have to leave college but she also had to MOURN THE LOSS OF HER DREAMS. My mother has done quite well, she was strong and determined. But, if she had to do it all over again, she would NEVER PICK UP THAT VERY FIRST CIGARETTE!!! Because, once she picked up that FIRST cigarette, she KNEW she was HOOKED FOR LIFE!! She said that NOTHING is worth the loss of your DREAMS or the loss of your LIFE or the PAIN and SUFFERING it causes YOU and YOUR FAMILY!!!!
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