Zoe Shackleford believed she was making the right choice when she gave up cigarettes for vaping. Like many others, she thought it was a healthier alternative, a stepping stone toward quitting altogether. But what she didn’t expect was that this “better” option would nearly claim her life.
At just 29 years old, Zoe’s story is a sobering reminder of how quickly habits can spiral into danger. One morning, she awoke with a tight chest and difficulty breathing. Assuming it was a cold or seasonal flu, she tried to push through, unaware that her lungs were already in serious distress.
Within days, her health declined at a terrifying pace. Simple tasks such as walking across a room or speaking in full sentences became unbearable. Her family rushed her to the hospital, where doctors discovered she had lost nearly half of her lung capacity. They warned her that even a short delay in treatment could have cost her life.