I grew up in a family of smokers. Both of my parents smoked 1to 2 packs a day. I vividly remember going to school and being made fun of for reeking like cigarettes. I hated it and begged my parents to quit. They finally did for a period of time when I was 14. Weird thing happened. When they quit I started to crave the smoke. With in a month I was smoking regularly. When I started smoking it felt like the sun rose in my soul. I finally felt normal but at the same time hated it. I knew I smelt bad and was harming myself but I couldn’t be without. In my 24 years of smoking I have tried every method of cessation except hypnosis. I have even tried combinations like Wellbutrin, Nicorette, and counseling. Every time I failed I hated myself a little bit more. Then I stumbled across electronic cigarettes in 2009. It was a god send. I quit smoking without cravings. I lost weight and became pregnant. During my pregnancy I was completely abstinent from nicotine. I relapsed on cigarettes when my daughter was 5 months old. I cringed every time I held her knowing she was being exposed to the smell. A little part of me died. Again, I tried Wellbutrin and counseling to no effect. I still had my old electronic cigarette kit so I started using it again. 8 months later I am still smoke free. I can hold my daughter and kiss my husband without cringing in guilt. I am happy. I am healthy. I am slowly working on reducing my need for nicotine. I have reduced my daily consumption from 3ml of 24mg nicotine to 3ml of 12mg nicotine. My goal is to become nicotine free, but I am not going to allow myself feelings of shame if that doesn’t happen. I have lived for too many years in judgement both external and internal. I am writing this specifically to people who may have to make a judgement on legislation for these devices. Please see my story as an example of how decisions regarding these devices effect more than companies, or revenue sources, or political careers. A decision on this literally effects millions of people exactly like me.