She’s a ‘ticking time-bomb’ 😲

Loyda Cordero Faliero, a 39-year-old mom from Franklinville, New York, switched from smoking cigarettes to vaping after more than 20 years, believing it was a healthier choice. However, less than two years later, she faced a life-threatening lung condition called bullous emphysema, a severe and irreversible form of COPD, caused by air pockets forming and rupturing in her lungs.

“My lung collapsed because it was building up with the liquid from my vape,” she explained. This rupture nearly killed her and has drastically changed her daily life — she now sleeps upright to avoid choking, and even simple tasks like cooking or lifting a gallon of milk leave her struggling for breath.

Though bullous emphysema is usually linked to long-term smoking, doctors believe vaping caused the severe lung damage in her case due to fluid buildup and inflammation. What began as a hopeful switch to a “safer” alternative turned into a debilitating health crisis.

Experts caution that while vaping is marketed as a cleaner option, inhaling heated chemicals and aerosols can cause serious lung irritation and damage. Faliero’s story is a powerful warning: vaping is not harmless.

“If I had kept vaping, I’d be on life support in five years,” she said. Now, she hopes her experience raises awareness about the risks and encourages others to reconsider.

“This is a ticking time bomb,” Faliero warned. “I want people to know the truth before it’s too late.”