A young man, Raymond Dane, 24, is speaking out after experiencing a sudden lung collapse, urging others to reconsider vaping. Having started at 15, he recalls sneaking his vaping device into a store, not even checking his ID.
The incident he refers to as his “wake-up call” happened on September 13 while he was dining with his girlfriend. Without warning, he felt a severe burning pain in his back.
The discomfort escalated until he fainted in a mall, prompting an ambulance ride to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with spontaneous pneumothorax, a condition becoming increasingly common among young vapers.
Raymond, who works in sales in Buffalo, was taken aback, asserting he considered himself healthy and had no prior health issues aside from vaping. He expressed gratitude for recovering, although he noted that the healing process might take up to two months.
He firmly declared that he has quit vaping and is encouraging others to do the same. Reflecting on his teenage years, Raymond admitted to trying cigarettes occasionally, but he quickly transitioned to vaping, largely due to its discreet nature.
He described how convenient it was to vape, which led many young people, including himself, to choose it. Over the years, he began using THC pens, which became a part of his routine.
On the day of his collapse, Raymond was with his girlfriend in their car after finishing work. He began to feel intense pain that made it difficult to do anything but scream.
After passing out, his girlfriend called for help, and the ambulance arrived about half an hour later, taking him to the hospital. Once there, he underwent X-rays that revealed the lung collapse.
Raymond expressed shock at the diagnosis, mentioning that seeing other young patients with similar issues in the hospital heightened his fears. While doctors couldn’t pinpoint the direct cause of his pneumothorax, they noted a trend among young vapers.
During his four nights at the hospital, Raymond experienced significant weakness and pain, especially as they inserted a tube into his chest to assist with his recovery. He described the experience as painful, stating that it took a toll on him both physically and mentally.
Now, Raymond is on a new path, using nicotine pouches and consuming THC in edible form instead, firmly regarding the whole episode as a serious wake-up call.
