LEXINGTON, N.C. — A heart and kidney transplant survivor says he is grateful to be alive after years of chain smoking, and wants others to know there is more to life than just lighting up a cigarette.

Keith Overcash’s bright red Corvette means more than just her looks. 

“I named her Journey so that it would represent the journey that I’ve been on. And so, I use her to benefit anybody that I can,” said Overcash. 

The almost three decade veteran brings Journey to veteran mental health awareness events, churches or anywhere he says the fancy car could bring a smile or benefit someone. Overcash says he knows what it’s like to struggle with something. 

“I’m somewhat embarrassed to say, but I was 8 years old and started stealing my mom and dad’s cigarettes. And then when I was 13, manipulated my mother by telling her that a kid down the road was smoking. And I said, ‘Do you know he smokes?’ And she goes, ‘Yes, I know it.’ I said, ‘How old do you think you should be before you start smoking?’ And she says, ‘Whenever you’re old enough to make your own money, you should be able to smoke then.’ And I looked at her and I said, ‘Well, momma, I mow yards and I make money. So, I just thought I’d let you know I smoke now.’ And so, that was at 13 years old,” said Overcash. 

His addiction to smoking continued for 40 years, and at one point, he says he was smoking over three packs a day.

Keith Overcash, polishing his Corvette. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

“When it comes to the cigarettes, they totally controlled every aspect of my life,” said Overcash. 

The cigarettes disciplined Overcash so much that on Labor Day weekend in 2007, he refused to have a defibrillator implanted since he would not be able to have a cigarette for multiple days. 

“There were 21 doctors came in and begged my family to change my mind. But I had told the doctors that quality of life was more important to me than quantity, and if you took my cigarette away, I wouldn’t have a quality of life. And so I chose to leave the hospital and not get a defibrillator,” said Overcash. 

Overcash received a defibrillator at a later date, shocking him over 30 times.

“It shocked me so many times until the battery died, and I had to have a second defibrillator implanted,” said Overcash. 

On Aug. 11, 2011, he says he experienced the worst chest pain of his life and decided to light up a cigarette. The chest pain was so extreme, however, he couldn’t even inhale. 

“I quickly realized that I was dying. There was no question in my mind, and I looked up at the ceiling. I asked God to forgive me for my sins, and I asked him to take care of my wife. And it felt like I went to sleep. But I went into cardiac arrest,” said Overcash. 

He was experiencing ventricular fibrillation. His heart was beating 286 beats per minute. Later, after receiving a heart and kidney transplant, Overcash says he changed his mind on his ideology of fewer cigarettes diminishing his quality of life. 

“Quality started to look really good, and so much so, 20 days later I quit smoking,” said Overcash.  

Overcash, his wife, kids and his daughter-in-law all quit smoking. 

“It’s the day that I became aware of what cigarettes are doing to me, the control it had, and that’s not the life that I wanted anymore,” said Overcash.  

It gave him a chance to be a grandfather to his eight grandchildren, some of whom he would have never met. 

“It’s better to reconsider giving it up now than when you only have a short time left to live. It’s not the benefit from the smoke. It’s not near as good as the benefits of a longer life and seeing things that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise,” said Overcash. 

He says it wasn’t the first time he tried to quit, but this time, he will never go back. 

Keith Overcash on a walk with his dog, Asher. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

“Every single time that I’m within a distance of being able to smell it, I audibly say, ‘Thank you Jesus, that I no longer smoke.’ There’s nothing about it that I like anymore, nothing whatsoever. So I would never ever smoke another cigarette,” he said.

North Carolina received an “F” in 4 out of 5 categories from the American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control grades. Getting an “F” in the categories of tobacco, prevention and cessation funding, smoke-free air, tobacco products and flavored tobacco products. The state got the grade of “D” in access to cessation services. 

North Carolina has been given an overall grade of “F” every year since 2017.

“I want people to understand is every three seconds of every single day, somebody in the United States dies from a cardiovascular disease. And what I didn’t understand, but I want you to understand, is that most all of it is avoidable with just lifestyle changes. So, in the time that I’ve just told you that, someone just passed away from a cardiovascular disease,” said Overcash. 

Danna Thompson, director of advocacy and public policy for the American Lung Association in North Carolina, provided Spectrum News 1 the following statement:

 “The State of Tobacco Control report grades the policies of each state in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use, including ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products; funding for state tobacco prevention programs; strength of smokefree workplace laws; level of state tobacco taxes; and access to proven treatments to quit tobacco. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in North Carolina. 

The ‘F’ grade for North Carolina is a result of several things: 1. The state still has yet to implement raising the sale of age of tobacco products to 21 years in alignment with federal law and establishing a comprehensive evidence-based tobacco retail licensing system. 2. North Carolina only funds tobacco control programs at 15.8% of the recommended level by Centers for Disease Control. 3. Strong preemption laws in North Carolina prevent local communities from passing policies that could help prevent youth from starting the addictive habit in the first place.

The Access to Cessation grade went from an F last year to a D this year due to the fact that policy makers passed Medicaid expansion. However, there are still many barriers in place preventing individuals from receiving access to counseling and medication that could lead to stop smoking efforts.”

Overcash encourages people to evaluate addictions we may have and the effects on life it can cause.