Mother and daughter quit smoking together with Wellbeing for Life support
After decades of smoking, Julie Wilson (63) and her daughter Tina Irving (43) decided to quit together, supporting each other every step of the way with the help of Nikki Williams, a Wellbeing for Life Community Connector.
For Julie, the turning point came when her health began to suffer. A cleaner who is constantly on the move at work, she found herself struggling to walk up a hill on her way from the bus stop and was becoming increasingly breathless throughout the day. Colleagues could hear her wheezing as she walked along corridors and she was finding physical tasks much harder than before.
"It was affecting everything," Julie explained. "I was slower, struggling to breathe and exhausted by the end of the day."
Tina was facing similar challenges. She regularly experienced wheezing and chest infections and remembers walking up a local hill and being unable to catch her breath when she reached the top. That moment convinced her it was time to act.
As a Wellbeing Practitioner with Wellbeing for Life, Tina was already passionate about helping others improve their health and wellbeing. She also worked closely with Nikki and knew she was one of her first clients as a stop smoking advisor.
"I felt a bit of pressure being Nikki's first client," Tina said. "We work together and I really wanted us both to succeed. It definitely gave me extra motivation to stick with it."
Both women had smoked for most of their lives, with Julie smoking for 47 years and often getting through around 40 cigarettes a day. Tina had smoked for around 30 years. They decided to quit together, finding motivation in not wanting to let each other down.
Their stop smoking journey was supported by Wellbeing for Life, which provided appointments at a local community venue close to home, making it easier for them to attend regularly. They both used a combination of vapes and nicotine replacement patches, helping them manage cravings while breaking the habit of smoking.
Julie says the local support was crucial.
"I couldn't have done it without the support from Wellbeing for Life. There's no way I could have done it on my own. Having somebody to be accountable to made all the difference."
The results came quickly. Both women saw dramatic improvements in their carbon monoxide (CO) readings, dropping from levels associated with heavy smoking to those expected of a non-smoker within just a few weeks. Julie's reading fell from 25 to 1, while Tina's dropped from 23 to 2.
Their health improvements were noticeable almost immediately. Both found their breathing improved, their wheezing reduced and everyday tasks became easier. Julie, who was later diagnosed with COPD, believes quitting smoking has prevented her condition from becoming significantly worse.
"I can breathe, I feel better in myself and I can taste my food again," she said. "If I hadn't stopped smoking, I'd be in a much worse situation."
Tina also reported wider health benefits, including lower blood pressure and improved overall wellbeing. The pair noticed their sense of taste returning, felt less tired and were no longer dominated by the need to fit cigarettes into every part of their daily routine.
Financially, the benefits have been substantial too. Instead of spending money on cigarettes, Julie is putting cash aside for home improvements, while Tina is saving for her new home.
Now seven months smoke-free, both women say quitting together was one of the best decisions they have ever made.
They also credit Nikki's encouragement and practical support for helping them succeed. As one of Nikki's first stop smoking clients, Tina was with her at the beginning of her own stop smoking practitioner journey.
Nikki admits she was initially reluctant to train as a stop smoking advisor but has been surprised and inspired by the results she has seen.
"I honestly didn't think it would be as successful as it has been," she said. "The people coming through the service are often lifelong smokers who really need support. What has surprised me most is how committed people are and how much they don't want to let you down."
As an ex-smoker herself, Nikki believes her lived experience helps her connect with clients in a non-judgemental way, building relationships that keep people motivated when cravings and triggers appear.
For Nikki, seeing people like Julie and Tina succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
"I love it. It's amazing. I always remind people to look how far they've come, not how far they've got to go."
Their story shows how accessible local support, the right stop smoking tools and encouragement from family can help even the longest-term smokers become smoke-free and enjoy healthier, happier lives.
Wellbeing for Life is part of Adult Wellbeing Services, delivered in partnership by Pioneering Care Partnership and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
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