My name is Tom Blackwell. I am 38 years old from Leesburg, Florida. I started smoking like many others in High School. My crowd of friends smoked so I started around the age of 15. I smoked a pack a day plus for 22 years. I had a near fatal car accident when I was only 18 years old in 1993. I broke all 4 limbs, a wrist and ankle, had a collapsed lung, concussion and a shattered my left hip and pelvis. I quit Smoking entirely on Aug 20th 2012. I had a hospital born hip infection from a botched hip replacement in Feb 2011. I had been sick to the point of near death until August 2012. I lost a lot of bone and flesh in my left thigh due to the celulitis from the streptococcus Intermedius (they called it a superbug) and my new hip doctor who specializes in infected joint replacements, mostly hips and knees. He told me that I would have a 50/50 shot if I kept smoking that I would either have my leg removed and be in a wheelchair or death. If I quit smoking my chances went up to 85%. That is when I discovered vaping. I haven’t looked back since. I am infection free and am recuperating from my 3rd hip replacement in less than 8 years. I had no left hip and pelvis from August 24th 2012 to Feb. 3rd 2013. They had to remove the replacement. Kill the infection with 2 rounds of IV antibiotics, and then wait for 4 months to make sure it wasn’t coming back then put the new hip in. Vaping really saved my life! I tried the patch and it never worked for me. I also tried medicines to help and they didn’t work either. I promised my mother I would quit smoking by the time I was 30. I let her down and then it was 35. I let her down again. I felt horrible. Like a loser and I basically felt like I lied to my Mother and that was unacceptable. When I told her to give me to 40 I thought I was lying right to her face. I truly thought I would never quit smoking but as soon as I tried my first electronic cigarette I knew I could quit. I havenƒ??t smoked one cigarette since August 20th 2012. I am 38 years old and quit smoking shortly after my 37th birthday. I smoked cigarettes since I was 15 years old. I can smell, taste, and breathe so much better and I feel better too. I thank God every night before I go to bed for electronic cigarettes.