WVA’s Community Manager, Liza Katsiashvili sits down with Desiree Van Deventer, one of the participants of the 2021 WVA Academy, to talk about her dramatic story and how vaping is changing her present and future.

What is your vaping story?

My mom was a heavy smoker, and so was many of her friends. She eventually got emphysema. Over a period of four to five years, I saw her suffering as a result of this. She ended up on permanent oxygen, to the point where she did not leave the house any longer. No more family outings, no more mom and daughter shopping, no more family holidays. She then started having heart issues, we ended up in hospital each month, sometimes she would be hospitalised a week, other times two weeks. It just got worse. One morning we found my mom had passed in her sleep from heart failure. It tore us apart. She was only 59 years old.

I started smoking at the young age of 16. I was one of those who “enjoyed” smoking. You could never tell me that it is bad for you, I would always defend it. As I grew older, I realised I was getting sick often, and each time it would be Bronchitis. I was smoking heavily by the time I was 43, around 30 cigarettes a day.

I tried to quit.  Cold turkey, then nicotine patches, nothing worked. My husband one day came home with a mod (Electronic cigarette), and he told me he is giving up cigarettes, I told him he just wasted money.  The very next day he quit cigarettes, I did not think it would last.  Eventually, after him vaping for 3 years, I thought I should give this “vaping thing” a try and see. I got myself a little pod system, and some blackcurrant e-juice, and gave it a try. For a few days, I was a dual user, and then I made the decision to quit the cigarettes. It was very difficult, but with the help of my little pod, I managed.  Two years later, I am cigarette-free and it was the very best decision I had ever made.

How has vaping changed your life?

First and foremost vaping has left me healthier than I was while I was smoking cigarettes. In two years I have not gotten anything worse than a common cold, and even then, in a few days, it goes away. I can taste food, I smell better, I sleep better. In general, I just feel so much better and healthier.  I know vaping is not 100% safe, it is however a much healthier alternative to cigarettes.

I have also met so many like-minded people in this industry, people with a common goal, people set on educating other smokers to make the switch.  I feel as if I have a purpose. It has been a long while since I have had such passion for something.  The community is extremely supportive, they are willing to help and give advice.  I love being part of this community worldwide.

What has been your experience with WVA Academy? What did you learn?

There is a common goal worldwide, With WVA we have one voice.  We all have the same fight.  I learnt how important advocacy is, how important it is to have people aligned in your group.  How important it is not to give up, and how important it is to keep fighting this fight, and how important it is to have team engagement. I have really enjoyed all the speakers, all the advice, and all of the material made available to us.

Why do you think it is important to stand for vaping?

Educating!!! Educating!!! Educating!!

There are just so many false rumours and false information about vaping, and this is keeping people hooked on cigarettes, instead of then having information to make an informed decision about their health and making the switch to a healthier alternative.  Vaping saves lives, vaping has saved my life.