Jayden Richardson admitted to picking up e-cigarettes at the age of 12 in an attempt to fit in, consuming the equivalent of about 50 cigarettes a day.
However, the now 17-year-old was shocked and frightened when he started coughing up blood on the final day of his family vacation in Turkey in August of 2024.
Rushed to the hospital upon returning home, doctors initially thought he had a stomach ulcer, but an endoscopy later revealed severe lung damage caused by his vaping addiction.
Despite his determination to quit, Jayden succumbed to using a vape again while celebrating his birthday on January 10, leading to another episode of coughing up blood.
This incident occurred shortly before the tragic passing of Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan, who had also been hospitalized for excessive vaping.
After his ordeal, Jayden’s mother, Elita, took to Facebook to warn others about the dangers of vaping, emphasizing that it can happen to anyone.
Jayden is currently awaiting a CT scan and has pledged to never use disposable vapes again following their ban in June 2025.
Reflecting on his experience, Jayden shared, “I was terrified. I never imagined vaping could have such severe consequences.”
He described the moment he started coughing up blood in Turkey, leading to a shocking and traumatic experience that continued even upon returning home.
Jayden’s father rushed him to the hospital in Birmingham after more incidents of coughing up blood, where doctors eventually diagnosed him with severe lung damage.
Elita expressed her shock at the situation, initially believing her son had a stomach ulcer before the severity of his condition was revealed.
Jayden’s subsequent decision to quit vaping was marred by a relapse during his birthday weekend, resulting in further health complications and the need for a CT scan.
Despite the pain and struggle, Jayden is determined to stay away from vaping and raise awareness about the risks associated with it.
He acknowledged his excessive consumption of vape juice and cigarettes, attributing it to the influence of those around him.
Me sentía como si fuera algo normal encajar, pero en realidad se convirtió en una costumbre. Estaba vapeando todos los días. No lo soltaba realmente, para ser honesto. Es solo un mal hábito en realidad. Una vez que empiezas, obviamente es altamente adictivo, es difícil parar.
“Cuando los desechables eran más populares, no sabes qué hay realmente en ellos. Encuentras falsos. Ninguno de ellos es bueno, pero especialmente son realmente malos para ti. Todo tipo de químicos.
“No sabes qué están realmente poniendo. Son peligrosos y nadie debería tocarlos. Deberían ser prohibidos en todos los países.
“Si pudiera volver a ese momento cuando empecé, me diría a mí mismo ‘nunca tocar uno de ellos’. Es increíble lo peligrosos que son y lo que pueden hacer realmente al cuerpo humano. No te das cuenta cuando lo haces. Simplemente te afecta a largo plazo. Nunca tocaría uno.”