24/08/2026
A married couple from Kawerau recently began their journey to becoming smoke-free. The wife registered with the service first, and while she was working towards quitting, her husband remained a smoker but was incredibly supportive of her.
Together, they made positive changes at home to support her quit attempt. They cleared out their garage so that her husband could continue smoking there, allowing the couple to create a smoke-free home environment and reduce the temptation and exposure for his wife.
After seeing his wife’s progress and supporting her journey for several weeks, her husband decided to register with the service himself.
A particularly meaningful moment came when the couple travelled to visit their adult children. The wife had been smoke-free for two weeks when her children surprised her with a Pandora heart charm for her bracelet. They told her how proud they were of her for quitting and encouraged her to look at the charm whenever she felt like smoking, reminding her of how proud they were of what she had achieved.
The charm quickly became a powerful reminder of her motivation and the support of her family.
While the couple were away, her husband experienced a health scare and was triaged at Urgent Care. This was an extremely stressful and emotional situation. In the past, an event like this would have been a significant trigger for the wife and may have led her to start smoking again.
This time, however, she responded differently.
When she felt the urge to smoke, she looked at her charm and remembered how proud her children were of her. That simple but deeply personal reminder helped her stay focused on her achievement, and she remained smoke-free throughout this difficult period.
Her experience demonstrates the importance of having meaningful sources of motivation and support when quitting smoking. The charm became a tangible symbol of her achievement, her family’s pride, and her reasons for staying smoke-free.
It also highlights the positive impact that quitting can have within a family. Her husband initially supported her quit journey as a smoker himself, but seeing her progress ultimately encouraged him to take the step of registering and beginning his own journey.
Together, they are now working towards a healthier, smoke-free future—not only for themselves, but for the people who are proud to see them succeed.
