Yuma man warns other about the dangers of long-term smoking
Lauren Duffel
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man is sharing his story to warn others about the long-term impacts smoking his has on his life.
81-year-old Sherrill Vick smoked for 62 years of his life. Now, he is living with the devastating health consequences of his addiction.
“It’s ruined it. It has ruined my life,” Vick remarked.
Vick started smoking at the age of 20 after being drafted into the Vietnam War. Six decades later, he is now bound to an oxygen tank, with his lungs working at just 30% capacity.
“I can’t go anywhere without this and a machine here, here, here, and in the garage. I have to take a tank to go to Dairy Queen to get a banana split,” Vick shared.
With the support of his loving daughter, Louis Shuster, she shares how seeing her father in this condition has affected her.
“He was a strong man who could do anything. He taught all of his daughters how to change oil, how to change a tire, how to do things because he always wanted us to be independent women,” Shuster explained. “And now, to see him need help and have to carry an oxygen tank is emotionally draining.”
Vick wants to share his story to help the community understand why smoking is harmful. He hopes his experience will encourage others to think twice before smoking.
“When someone offers you a cigarette, take it, break it in half, and give it back to them and say, ‘You have two lungs, and they’re going to end up like this,'” Vick expressed.
Smoking is preventable by just saying no, and it’s never too late to quit once you’ve started. No matter where you are in your journey, choosing to stop can lead to a healthier future.