My Friend Almost Died from a Vaping-Related Lung Injury: This Is Her Story.

My best friend, Amanda, 23, spent the last two weeks in the ICU because of a vape she bought at a convenience store.

Without a doubt, these were the worst weeks of her life—but also for her parents, our friends, and me, as we had to witness the horror up close.

It all started when Amanda developed a high fever, reaching 103°F. She went to an urgent care clinic, where doctors told her it was just the flu and sent her home. Five days later, her condition deteriorated rapidly. After vomiting and passing out, she was rushed to the emergency room.

At the hospital, the initial diagnosis was pneumonia, and she was about to be discharged. But then, a nurse noticed something alarming: Amanda’s oxygen levels were dropping so fast that they thought the machine was broken. To be sure, they tested another monitor. The results were the same. That’s when the medical team took immediate action and transferred her to the ICU.

As soon as she arrived, Amanda was put on a ventilator. Tests revealed that her lungs were filled with blood and fluid. She was literally drowning in her own body. If she had been sent home at that moment, she likely wouldn’t have survived.

Fortunately, the doctors didn’t waste any time. Without waiting for test results, they started aggressive treatment with steroids, antibiotics, and dialysis. But there was a major problem: every time they tried to clear her lungs, they filled up with blood again.

The doctors were racing against time to save her, unsure of where the bleeding was coming from. Her life hung by a thread.

Days passed in anguish and uncertainty. Her family took turns by her bedside, holding her hand, waiting for any sign of improvement. Then, slowly, the medications started working. The inflammation in her lungs subsided, the bleeding stopped, and she began to breathe a little easier.

After two weeks in the ICU and several more days in the hospital, Amanda was finally discharged. She left the hospital weaker than ever, but alive. Her recovery was slow and painful, requiring months of pulmonary therapy.

Today, she is doing well, but her life has changed forever. The doctors were clear: if she ever vaped again, the chances of surviving another episode would be slim.

Amanda learned the hard way about the dangers of vaping. Now, she shares her story to warn others. And so do I—because if you saw what we saw, you would never look at a vape the same way again.

This version maintains the emotional impact and structure of the original while making it natural and compelling in English.