The 16-year-old had only been using nicotine vapes for a week before things took a dangerous turn.
A 16-year-old girl has shared her story about how she began using nicotine vapes and found herself in a life-threatening situation just a week later—so severe that doctors claimed she was only hours away from dying.
Isabella Troncao, who had been vaping legal marijuana products for about 18 months since the age of 15, started using nicotine vapes after being introduced to them by a boy she was dating at the time.
She confessed to vaping heavily in social settings, trying to impress him, despite the burning sensation it caused in her throat each time.
Just one week into the habit, Isabella began feeling extremely unwell. She described the feeling as though a 50-pound weight was pressing down on the left side of her chest. The pain grew unbearable, and she struggled to take a full breath.
When she became too weak to walk to the bathroom or stay conscious, her mother and brother rushed her to St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada.
At the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with a rare and serious condition called Lemierre’s Syndrome.
Isabella had smoke marijuana vapes but was introduced to nicotine ones tooKennedy News
Healthline explains that Lemierre’s Syndrome occurs when a rare bacterial infection spreads to the throat.
“If left untreated, the infection can travel to the blood vessels responsible for carrying lymph fluid throughout the body. Without treatment, it can lead to severe or even life-threatening complications,” the source continues.
Isabella shared that when she reached the hospital, the medical team informed her that she was only hours away from death. Her body was already going into septic shock.
Doctors acted swiftly and carried out emergency surgery, draining a full litre of fluid from one of her lungs.
Isabella shared that the doctors believed vaping had significantly contributed to the buildup of harmful bacteria in her body. They discovered a high concentration of it, particularly at the back of her throat.
The frightening incident occurred in October 2023. Since then, Isabella has had time to reflect on the ordeal and the lessons it taught her.
Isabella was ‘hours from death’ when she got to hospitalKennedy News
She stated: “No one should be vaping; it’s harmful to your lungs and is making so many people sick.”
Her mother shared her perspective as well: “We all make mistakes, but they’re advertising these vapes with fruity flavors and bright colors—they’re even worse than cigarettes.”
Reflecting on the entire experience, Isabella said: “It felt like a sign from God that I was meant to stay here for a reason. It’s crazy to think I almost missed it in such a short amount of time.”
“It truly feels like I’ve been given a second chance at life.”
