What started as a move toward better health turned into a life-altering nightmare for Loyda Cordero Faliero, a 39-year-old mom from Franklinville, New York.
After smoking cigarettes for over 20 years, Faliero made the switch to vaping – believing, like many, that it was the healthier choice. “I was proud of myself for quitting cigarettes,” she admitted in a recent interview. “I thought vaping would be the safer option.”
But less than two years later, she was rushed to the ER, struggling to breathe. Doctors discovered severe lung damage: air pockets had formed in the walls of her lungs, a condition known as bullous emphysema, a chronic, irreversible form of COPD. One of those pockets had ruptured.
“My lung collapsed because it was building up with the liquid from my vape,” she said, per LadBible. “One of the pulmonary bullae ended up bursting and that could’ve killed me instantly.”
The condition has reshaped her daily life. Faliero now sleeps upright in a recliner to avoid choking in her sleep. Simple tasks like cooking or washing dishes are physically exhausting, even lifting a gallon of milk leaves her gasping for air.
“If I lie flat, I could choke to death on my own spit,” she explained. “I can’t even stand up to make dinner without ending up in tears from the pain.”
Though bullous emphysema is typically linked to long-term smoking, Faliero’s doctors believe vaping was the primary cause in her case, due to the buildup of fluid and inflammation in her lungs. She’d gone from smoking to vaping around the clock, a habit she later realised had spiraled out of control.
“It really has taken over my life more than I ever thought it would,” she said. “I quit something thinking it was going to be healthier, but it destroyed me.”
Vaping has long been marketed as a ‘cleaner’ alternative to cigarettes, but emerging evidence tells a more complicated story. Experts warn that inhaling heated chemicals and aerosols can cause irritation, inflammation, and, in some cases, long-term lung damage. While cases like Faliero’s are rare, they’re not isolated.
Her story is a sobering reminder that “healthier” doesn’t mean harmless.
“I want people to understand, this isn’t just water vapor,” she said. “If I had kept vaping, I’d be on life support in five years. That’s how much damage it’s done.”
Despite her condition, Faliero hopes her story will raise awareness and encourage others to think twice.
“Basically, I’m on my deathbed,” she said. “This is a ticking time bomb, and I want people to know the truth before it’s too late.”
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