I'm happy for you, man. It's a struggle. I'm very late to the post, but figured I'd share my story.
I'm 32. Started smoking around 14 years old. Over the years, life took me into deep depression, shitty McJobs to make pocket change, going through a carton a week, joining the Army to get some direction in life (haha), forced out on medical discharge, smoking a carton and a half a week and binge drinking like the prohibition was coming back, then my father decided to take me in. Mind you, I was in my late 20s, living with a parent...a very sick parent. He was diabetic, took poor care of himself, chain smoker for 40+ years, and a Vietnam vet to boot, so we both shared the problem of PTSD. I took good care of him...filling up his meds for the week, making sure he took them, cooked for him, cleaned after him, picked him up when he fell in the middle of the night, went with him on doctors visits...I put my career on hold while caring for my father. (I did go to college though and got an associates degree in computer networking...thank you GI Bill) Something changed me in the 4 years I lived with him. I saw how poor in health he was and I decided one day after my last Marlboro Light, I wasn't going to the store for another. And I told him that, proud as can be. And wouldn't you know it, he was proud of me too, and said he'd like to kick the habit as well. So through some friends of mine, I learned about vaping. We both decided to give it a shot. He vaped on a cigalike for 7 months. I did too.
On December 19th, 2014, days before Christmas, I awoke at 8:00am to find his lifeless body on the living room floor. He passed away the night prior at the young age of 63. I'll always question what if I stayed up that night, caught him when death was imminent, called 911...but that's just how it goes I guess. I do know for a fact that his smoking contributed to his death, and I swore to myself and his soul that I would never pick up another cigarette again, nor drink to the excess I did. I don't want to live my life mirroring his pain and suffering. I want to live a life that would make him proud. I want to raise kids that know how good of a man my father was, taking in his slacker late 20s older son and asking nothing in return. I want them to know the dangers of smoking and what it can do to not just yourself...but everyone who knows and loves you.
I'm sorry for the long comment. I just started typing and my mind told me to let it out. I have to get it out somehow. The pain still lingers, the memories are still fresh.
But know this: I am proud of you. You showed incredible courage to quit smoking and I wish you nothing but the best. You saved your life. You saved so many memories for your children, memories that will never be sapped away from Big Tobacco. You are a smart human being and a great father (judging from your username I guess you are a male, if you are not I apologize). Best wishes man, and good luck in life.