Elaine and Stephen’s story

After 45 years of marriage, Elaine and Stephen McNally have done something they once doubted they ever would – they’ve both stopped smoking.

The Gateshead couple had built smoking into everyday life over decades. Elaine started as a young teenager, around 13 or 14, “just knocking about with friends,” and like many people, it quickly became more than just a one-off. Stephen picked it up later, in his late teens, and although he managed to quit in his twenties, that was far from the end of his quitting smoking story.

In fact, Stephen stayed smokefree for 30 years after successfully keeping a New Year’s resolution made with a friend. But years later, while on a cruise in the Red Sea, one cigar changed things. What started as ‘a one off’ became an addiction again.

By this point, Elaine’s smoking had steadily increased to as many as 40 to 50 cigarettes a day. She had tried to quit before – cold turkey, patches, and other stop smoking methods – but nothing had worked long term.

Looking back, she says “I simply wasn’t ready, and the cravings always felt too strong to overcome.”

That changed when her health began to suffer. She struggled to breathe, couldn’t walk far, and found everyday tasks exhausting. At the same time, the couple were thinking more and more about their family – especially their three grandchildren.

It was during an appointment with Dr Ruth Sharrock at the QE Hospital in Gateshead that everything shifted.

Elaine had been waiting for the stop-smoking medication Champix to become available again. She was delighted to learn that the medication is back – now available under its medical name, varenicline – and that she could finally access it as part of a supported quit attempt. Having heard about its return, she felt hopeful that this might be the thing that could help her succeed where previous attempts had failed.

Following her appointment, Elaine attended her first face-to-face session with Gateshead Stop Smoking Service. Stephen had driven her there and was waiting in the car while she went inside. During the appointment, he was invited in to join the conversation while the options for support were discussed.

What started as a chat about helping Elaine quit quickly became something more. As they talked about smoking, stopping smoking and how varenicline could help reduce cravings and make quitting more manageable, Stephen began thinking about his own smoking. By the end of the conversation, he had decided to quit too.

That one appointment changed both of their lives.

Their journey was supported by Gateshead Stop Smoking Service, where they worked with advisor Karina. The experience felt different from anything they had tried before.

They weren’t judged or pressured – they were supported, informed and guided through the process together.

“Karina took us under her belt, and we have never looked back since.”

For both Elaine and Stephen, varenicline played a major role in helping them become smokefree. After decades of smoking, they had worried about how they would cope without cigarettes and whether cravings would overwhelm them. Understanding how varenicline worked helped give them confidence from the start.

Rather than feeling like they were relying on willpower alone, they felt they had an effective treatment working alongside them.

As the weeks passed, both noticed that their desire to smoke began to reduce. Cigarettes became less appealing and the constant thoughts about smoking that had dominated their lives for years started to fade.

Alongside the medication, regular appointments with Karina gave them reassurance, encouragement, and practical advice whenever they needed it.

 

Quitting together quickly became a shared effort. They talked daily to each other about how they were getting on, kept each other accountable, and even turned aspects of it into a friendly competition – comparing carbon monoxide readings at appointments and marking each milestone as they went.

What could have felt isolating instead became something they did together. The cravings came, particularly in those early days when routines were hardest to break – a cup of tea without a cigarette felt strange.

But one of the biggest surprises for Elaine was how manageable those cravings became. Having smoked up to 50 cigarettes a day, she expected quitting to be a constant battle. Instead, she found that varenicline helped take the edge off the urges to smoke.

What once felt overwhelming would pass within moments. The cravings were less intense, less frequent, and easier to deal with than she had imagined. Over time, those moments became fewer and fewer.

Stephen found the same. Together, they were able to break routines and habits that had been part of everyday life for decades.

Now, eight months after quitting together on 5 November 2025, the difference is striking.

Elaine’s health has improved dramatically. She can breathe properly again, move around more freely, and take on everyday tasks without the constant exhaustion she once felt. She describes it as feeling like she’s “got her legs back.”

For Stephen, it’s about knowing they have more time ahead – particularly with their grandkids.

Their home has changed too. The smell of smoke has gone, replaced by something cleaner and fresher – something they notice immediately now, especially when others come in after smoking.

Quitting together hasn’t just helped them stop smoking – it’s reinforced the foundation of a relationship built over decades. Trust, they both say, played a big part in getting them through, just as it has throughout their 45-year marriage.

Looking back, Elaine is honest about how she felt at the start. She didn’t believe it would work for her – she thought she had smoked too much, for too long.

What made the difference this time was the combination of specialist support and varenicline. Instead of feeling like she was fighting cigarettes on her own, she felt equipped with the right treatment, the right advice and the right encouragement at exactly the right time.

That’s exactly why her message to others carries so much weight now. “Don’t overthink it – just start and get support.”

Stephen’s advice is simple. “Don’t look for problems before they happen.”

Together, their story shows that even after a lifetime of smoking, it’s never too late to quit.

For Elaine and Stephen, access to varenicline through their stop smoking service, combined with expert friendly support from Karina, helped turn something that once felt impossible into a reality.

And for both of them, there’s no going back.