At just 12 years old, Jayden Richardson, now 17, started vaping to fit in with his friends. What began as a casual habit quickly escalated into an addiction, with Jayden consuming the equivalent of 50 cigarettes a day. His excessive vaping began to take a severe toll on his health, leading to a shocking medical emergency during a family holiday in Turkey.
On the last day of their trip, Jayden began coughing up what he described as “pints” of blood. Initially, his mother, Elita, thought the symptoms were linked to a stomach ulcer, possibly caused by his indulgent eating habits, especially the greasy food he ate during their holiday. However, doctors quickly ruled out this theory.
After undergoing an endoscopy, the doctors determined that the blood was coming from severe lung damage caused by his constant vaping. His doctors advised him to stop using e-cigarettes immediately, and Jayden, shaken by the diagnosis, promised to quit. Unfortunately, by his birthday in January, he relapsed and returned to vaping, only for the symptoms to resurface.
Jayden is currently awaiting a CT scan to assess the damage to his lungs and hopes that the upcoming ban on disposable vapes in June 2025 will help in his effort to quit for good. Reflecting on his experience, Jayden shared, “I was terrified. I never thought vaping could cause all this.” He continued, “It started off in Turkey. The night before I had a bit of chest pain, but didn’t think much of it. The next day, after a quick go on my vape, I felt a bit phlegmy and went to spit it out—only to see blood. I was in shock.”
Jayden has since realized the severity of his actions. “If I could go back to that moment when I first started vaping, I’d tell myself ‘never to touch one of them’,” he admitted. “It’s crazy how dangerous they are and what they can actually do to the human body. You don’t realize it when you do it, but it affects you in the long run. I would never touch one again.”
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