Rzucanie palenia razem – historia Danielle i Sophie

Danielle Keeble (30) and Sophie Hart (33), both from Ipswich, first met when Sophie moved in next door to Danielle. Three years later, their friendship became the foundation for one of the most significant changes in their lives: giving up smoking.

Both Danielle and Sophie began smoking in their early teens, which led them to eventually smoking on average 20 cigarettes every day. Danielle juggles life as a busy mum of four, whilst Sophie is raising two boys of her own. For both ladies, smoking had become a deeply embedded addiction and normal part of their daily routine, often turning to smoking for stress relief, and even reward.

Sophie was the first to access support through Feel Good Suffolk following the completion of a self- referral form after she enquired about stopping with her GP practice. Knowing Danielle also wanted to quit, she encouraged her to join the service too.

For Sophie, smoking had become expensive and something she found herself hiding behind during difficult moments. She explained that her Husband disliked the smell, and she began to notice how often her youngest son would go to the back door looking for her, knowing she’d be outside smoking. As a mother, who prides herself on being a good parent, she found this embarrassing and upsetting, so that combined with other factors it motivated her to want to make a change.

She said:

“To be honest, I didn’t like who I was becoming. I didn’t like that I found an excuse for my behaviour. I didn’t like the fact that I would turn to a cigarette, to make me feel better. That’s not how I want the rest of my life to go. I wanted to face things head on and I didn’t want my children to grow up around a parent who smoked because I knew it would increase the risk of them smoking one day in the future.”

Sophie recognised that cigarettes had become a crutch. Instead of facing problems directly, she would smoke to calm down. Above all, she wanted to be a better role model for her sons especially her eldest, who she described as an amazing athlete.

“I don’t want him to give in to peer pressure one day because he could say ‘well, my mum smokes’.”

With all of this in mind, Sophie committed to addressing the twenty year habit and chose her 10‑year wedding anniversary as her quit date, marking a new decade of being smoke‑free.
She found the phone‑based support honest, motivating, and transformative.

She even said:

“This might sound cheesy, but I feel like Holly probably saved my life!”

Danielle had tried to stop smoking several times before, once even during pregnancy with the help of a supportive midwife but intense withdrawals and stressful moments had previously led her to relapse. This time, however, things felt different. Under the guidance of her stop smoking advisor, Holly, Danielle began using a nicotine patch and inhalator, which made all of the difference.

She told us:

“If it wasn’t for Sophie, I probably would still be smoking. I was always a very passionate smoker. I loved smoking. I enjoyed it. It was a hobby. It was my time. After dinner I’d smoke, if I was stressed, I’d smoke because it gave me five minutes to step away. I always made time for it, it was like a reward, but I found that it was taking over and rather than giving me five minutes, it was taking time away from me – I wasn’t gaining anything!”

When asked she explained that throughout her quit with the support of Holly, the inhalator had become an essential tool, especially in social situations or moments when the cravings really hit. It helped her break the hand‑to‑mouth habit that had previously kept her smoking.

Day three had always been Danielle’s toughest day marked in past attempts by irritability and emotional struggles, but this time, with correct advice and suitable treatment she was able to push through.

She said:

“It is baby steps, not leaps. It has been over three months now and I forget that I was even a smoker!”

Both women agreed that their shared commitment and Holly’s consistent weekly check‑ins were the key to their success. Quitting together gave them accountability, encouragement, and the reassurance that they weren’t alone. Danielle and Sophie have both reported that their health has significantly improved since stopping smoking. They feel less breathless, more energetic, and can run after their children without difficulty. They are incredibly proud of themselves and each other, and stopping smoking has inspired them to make other positive lifestyle changes.

With their sense of smell restored, they joke that they’ve developed a “new addiction” to discovering new cleaning products and washing scents and now find themselves in B&M together more than they would like to admit.

Holly, their Feel Good Suffolk stop smoking advisor, shared how inspiring it was to support two friends on the same journey.

“As a smoking cessation advisor it is always music to my ears when I hear….”I know someone else that wants to give up too”

Both Sophie and Danielle have engaged so well with the Feel Good Suffolk Stop Smoking service. We have had our weekly check in calls, and they have both been determined to quit smoking to improve their health.

I am extremely proud of both of them! It has now been over three months since either of them touched a cigarette and I wish them all the very best for the future.”