James Johnson and electronic cigarettes (1/10)
James Johnson spent his long working nights using disposable e-cigarettes, also known as Puff, which sold for around 14 euros each. According to him, each e-cigarette only lasted two days.
“I used to vape a lot” (2/10)
“I was working 17-hour days and constantly awake, so I vaped a lot,” he explains. This constant and intense habit led to serious complications for James, despite his young age and initially good physical condition, explains The Mirror.
His friends warn him (3/10)
His friends had warned him about the health risks of vaping. However, James thought he was immune to serious consequences. This belief led him to a critical situation, leaving him with only one functioning lung and a severely shortened life expectancy if he doesn’t change his lifestyle.
Transported urgently to intensive care (4/10)
James’ condition suddenly worsened one evening when he began vomiting blood. He was rushed to intensive care and placed on oxygen, before being put into a coma in an attempt to save his lungs.
The first few weeks were very difficult. (5/10)
“The first few weeks in the hospital were very difficult mentally, because I didn’t know where I was. I couldn’t walk, talk, or eat,” he says.
He doesn’t remember anything (6/10)
When he awoke from his coma, James had no memory of his 23-year-old partner, Charlotte, or their seven-month-old daughter, Harper-Mai. He describes this period as extremely frightening, realizing the extent of the damage caused by his vaping habit.
“Read carefully what you are inhaling before doing so” (7/10)
James now has a mission: to raise awareness about the dangers of Puffs. “Read carefully what you’re inhaling before you do ,” he advises. “Don’t think your age protects you. I’m only 20 and I almost lost my life . ”
A fight for a good cause (8/10)
He decided to participate in a charity boxing match to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, embarking on an intensive eight-week training program. “I’ve never done anything like this before, but I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’ If I do everything correctly and take care of my body, then I should be able to manage . ”
“I’m lucky to have had their support” (9/10)
His family was a pillar of support during this ordeal. His parents and partner helped him through the darkest moments of his hospitalization and rehabilitation. “It was very mentally taxing, but I’m lucky to have had their constant support ,” James says.
A story that should serve as an example (10/10)
Today, he is focused on his recovery and educating the public about the dangers of vaping products. James hopes his story will serve as a warning to other young adults who might think these products are safe. “I’m glad I found out about this now. This could have happened in 10 or 20 years, and my body wouldn’t have been strong enough to survive . ”
James Johnson, a 20-year-old nightclub bouncer, almost lost his seven-month-old daughter. Suffering from severe bilateral pneumonia, he was placed in a coma after vaping heavily for just 18 months.
