Former Smoker Dances for Joy

Teri Kahel is so pleased to be smoke-free she could practically do a square dance. Kahel had smoked for 25 years before moving from California back to her Midwest roots, settling in Madison. “I was moving in with my partner,” Kahel said. “I never smoked around her.” That move provided the impetus for Kahel to become tobacco-free.

“I’d tried to quit about 15 times. I used the patch and was able to quit for about three months. That was my only somewhat-successful attempt.” Her only successful attempt, that is, until she tried the You Can Quit program, offered free to employees of the UW Hospital and Clinics and the UW Medical Foundation and administered by UW-CTRI. This time, coaching plus a medication called varenicline (Chantix) delivered the winning formula. “The best part was that it was cost-free. I also liked the availability,” said Kahel, a senior administrative assistant at the UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wis. During her quit attempt, Kahel also had the support of friends and family members.

Now, she’s able to enjoy her smoke-free lifestyle. Dancing is a big part of her life. Weekly, she offers country-line-dancing lessons at a Madison club. She and her partner also take lessons from others to expand their dance repertoire.  

Plus, she appreciates her renewed sense of smell and taste. “I no longer have to deal with the smell. I’ve also noticed that food tastes better; some of my taste has come back.”