Doctor issues urgent vape warning after 17 year old develops irreversible 'popcorn lung' from popular habit
Mother recounts harrowing discussion with physician after her teen developed 'popcorn lung'. Christie Martin received a frantic telephone call from her daughter Brianne Cullen who stated she couldn't breathe properly. Alarmed, Christie transported the 17-year-old to the emergency department where medical staff provided oxygen, took X-rays and administered medications before diagnosing bronchiolitis obliterans—a condition commonly referred to as 'popcorn lung'. This rare pulmonary disorder occurs when scar tissue accumulates in the lungs, restricting airflow. Christie was unaware that Brianne had begun secretly vaping at age 14.
Describing the day her daughter fell ill, Christie from Henderson, Nevada, explained: "Brianne attended cheerleading while sick with a cough and sore throat. She was performing demanding activities like lifting children and tumbling. She suddenly phoned me saying she couldn't catch her breath. I struggled to understand her as she repeatedly gasped 'I can't breathe'—it was terrifying."
The mother credited cheerleading with potentially saving Brianne's life. "Cheerleading saved her because the physical exertion during practice combined with being ill meant she couldn't breathe," Christie explained.
"The physician entered and said we needed a very serious talk," Christie recalled about their hospital visit. "I wasn't prepared for what she told me—that it was popcorn lungs, a permanent condition causing fatalities in children. We remain uncertain about potential long-term effects."
Brianne, who used a $25 vape monthly for three years, received an inhaler from doctors at St. Rose Dominican Hospital to assist her breathing. Christie said: "We're uncertain about her current lung condition. I was completely distraught at the emergency room that night."
"Medical staff assured me she should recover fully because we detected it early, but it might cause future problems like cancer. I felt I'd failed as a parent. Tobacco smoking takes years to show damage and lungs can heal, but popcorn lung cannot be reversed."
"It required a life-threatening diagnosis for her to quit," the concerned mother added. Currently, Christie encourages other parents to unite in preventing young people from obtaining vapes and electronic cigarettes.
"We must collaborate to remove these products from stores," she stated. "This story serves as a warning to prevent children from vaping under any circumstances. I sincerely hope authorities prohibit these devices completely, as they pose greater dangers than cigarettes."
