My name is Karl and this is my story….. I am 54 years old, live in Chicago and work here as a firefighter/EMT. Beginning about 4 years ago, I began to become increasingly aware that my lung capacity was diminishing when I would perform the physically demanding actions necessary for extinguishing a structure fire. The physical demands of an interior fire attack can be extreme to say the least. I realized that my cigarette smoking days should be left behind. The combined effects of those and repeated exposures to smoke at fires on my job had taken their toll. I tried nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges and even Chantix. None of these was effective to any appreciable degree. I came across the occasional reference to e-cigarettes and decided to try them out. Within 2 months I had weaned myself off of smoking and was using electronic only. In a very short time, I was not coughing, I was breathing better and soon was at the gym using the elliptical machine for an hour straight without being fatigued and all the time remaining at a heart rate below 130 without being out of breath. Previous to quitting cigarettes….this would have been impossible! I feel that this product has not only improved my health, but has also prolonged my life and increased my effectiveness in my duties by twofold. Who knows? Perhaps this will eventually lead to being able to conduct rescues that will save other lives as well! For me, the electronic cigarette is a fantastic solution to what I had previously believed was an insurmountable health issue. Karl Vanderah