Shawn was 14 years old when he started smoking. He was in his midforties when a chronic cough and laryngitis turned out to be throat cancer. He finally quit smoking—but doctors were unable to save his larynx. He now has a stoma (opening) that allows him to breathe and a laryngeal implant that allows him to speak. In this TV ad from CDC's Tips From Former Smokers campaign, Shawn describes how life's ordinary tasks are more challenging with a stoma. Comments on this video are allowed in accordance with our comment policy: http://www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Tools/CommentPolicy.html This video can also be viewed at http://streaming.cdc.gov/vod.php?id=4186c97bd032d0dc9612fec4c6707e4420140620143822468