Marie W.’s Story

Meet Marie W.

Marie lives in New York and started smoking in high school with her friends. They would congregate regularly to smoke the cigarettes they took from family members. Marie smoked for 40 years, although she tried several times to stop. She would quit smoking for up to 9 months at a time, but something—an issue at work or a problem with the kids—would inevitably trigger a relapse.

In 1993, in her early 40s, Marie was diagnosed with Buerger’s disease, a disorder linked to tobacco use that causes blood vessels in the hands and feet to become blocked and can result in infection or gangrene. Over time, parts of Marie’s body, such as her feet, fingertips, and lower legs, required amputation. Marie has been smokefree since 2006.

On This Page

Free Quitting Resources

Telephone

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
• 1-800-838-8917 (中文)
• 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
• 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)

Smartphone Apps/Text

• Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
• quitSTART appexternal icon

Web

• Quit Smoking (En Español)
• Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
• Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon

Marie W.’s Videos

Marie W.’s Story

Marie’s Story

Low Resolution Video

Marie talks about discovering she had Buerger’s disease, an illness caused by smoking, and its effects on her life in this video from CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign.

Buerger’s Tips

Buerger’s Tips

Low Resolution Video

Smoking causes Buerger’s disease, which can lead to amputations. In this TV ad, Brandon and Marie talk about living with the effects of Buerger’s disease as part of CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign.

On This Page

Free Quitting Resources

Telephone

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
• 1-800-838-8917 (中文)
• 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
• 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)

Smartphone Apps/Text

• Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
• quitSTART appexternal icon

Web

• Quit Smoking (En Español)
• Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
• Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon

Persons with disabilities experiencing problems accessing these videos should contact CDC-INFO at CDC-INFO email form: https://www.cdc.gov/info, 800-232-4636 or the TTY number at (888) 232-6348 and ask for a 508 Accommodation PR#9342. If emailing please type “508 Accommodation PR#9342” without quotes in the subject line of the email. Please include the URL of the site in the Subject line of your email request that you would like to access.

View more Tips videos sorted by name, disease and specific groups

View the Tips YouTube video playlist

[](https://smokefree.gov/tips)

Marie W.’s Biography

Marie began smoking in high school with her friends. They would congregate regularly to smoke the cigarettes they took from family members. “It was the thing to do,” says Marie. “We thought it made you look older.”

Marie smoked for 40 years, although she tried several times to stop. She would quit smoking for up to 9 months at a time, but something—an issue at work or a problem with the kids—would inevitably trigger a relapse.

The mother of two smoked two packs a day. “I was a key puncher for a brokerage house in New York City, and back in those days, you could smoke in the office,” Marie explained. But she would also enlist colleagues to walk and get exercise during their lunch breaks. It was during these walks that Marie felt something wasn’t right. “My legs were stiffening up,” she recalls.

Although she was concerned, she didn’t think the problem was serious. But her symptoms continued to get worse, so she went to the doctor. In 1993, she was diagnosed with Buerger’s disease, a disorder linked to tobacco use that causes blood vessels in the hands and feet to become blocked and can result in infection or gangrene. It took a year for the diagnosis to be confirmed. “I was in so much pain that I had to take painkillers every day,” she says.

Over time, parts of Marie’s body, such as her feet, fingertips, and lower legs, required amputation. “At age 44, half of my right foot was amputated. When I was 45, I had a below-the-knee amputation of my left leg. Then my fingers began to go.”

In 2006, Marie quit smoking for good with the help of nicotine patches. “I want to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow,” she says. Today, at age 62, Marie loves to read and spend time with friends. Through the Tips From Former Smokers® campaign, Marie hopes that telling her story will help motivate people who smoke to quit. “If you had an unsuccessful attempt, try and try again,” she urges.

Additional Resources

[Buerger's Disease

Get the Facts

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/buergers-disease.html)

[Quit Smoking Medicines

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/quit-smoking-medications/how-to-use-quit-smoking-medicines/index.html)

More Related Stories

More Real Stories about Buerger’s disease:

[Meet Brandon C.

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/brandon.html)

[Meet Rebecca C.

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/rebecca-c.html)

See all Tips Participant Stories

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