Man, 22, told he had 1% chance of living after vaping so much he needed lung op

20 January 2024 , 22:34

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Jackson Allard has received a double lung transplant and was warned he will need another in future (Image: wlbt)

A regular vaper was told he had just a 1% chance of survival after being left in need of a double lung transplant.

Jackson Allard, 22, underwent the life-saving operation on New Year's Day, putting an end to a series of serious health issues. His worried grandma, Doreen Hurlburt, feared she would lose her grandson forever.

She said: "At one point a doctor said he had a 1% chance of living." Despite his grandma's pleas, Jackson continued to vape, believing it was healthier than smoking. Now, after a double lung transplant, Jackson can't drink or smoke ever again. He was been warned another transplant is inevitable due to the damage caused by vaping. Medical expert Stephanie Hansen has voiced concerns about the unknown long-term effects of e-cigarettes.

Jackson's life was in major danger after he vaped so much he required a double lung transplant (wlbt)

She said: "Vaping or e-cigarette use is relatively new, so we don't necessarily know a lot of the long-term effects of vaping and that's honestly one of the scariest things about it."

She added: "I thought for sure we were going to lose him. I thought for sure he's not going to survive this, but in my mind, I kept picturing him coming home. His life will totally be different because of that. He said, he just wants to make sure other people don't do what he did, vape, and end up having to go through what he went through."

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Doreen had worried for her grandson prior to his double lung operation (wlbt)

A GoFundMe page was set up by his family who praised the double lung donor, with his family detailing a timeline of the 22 year old's recovery. Writing on the charity fundraiser, which has raised $20,910 of a $30,000 target, Doreen wrote: "They finally got him off the ECMO that kept him alive for 70 days. We were told he was the longest patient they have had there on ECMO.

Jackson of course making records seems fitting. 70 days on ECMO, 80 Days in the hospital! I keep telling him one step forward is getting him home! He now has to start sitting up, then walking...hope the chest tubes (there is 5) are gone early next week. Then they can start weaning him from the ventilator which is on rest mode, he is doing all the work now."

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Ewan Gleadow