The poignant final words of a 22-year-old man, spoken just before entering an induced coma, have been revealed. They shed light on the dire consequences of a vaping addiction—one that left the young man with only 1 per cent chance of survival.

Jackson Allard, hailing from North Dakota, was admitted to the University of Minnesota Medical Center in October 2023 and diagnosed with a rare form of influenza and double pneumonia. The severity of his condition led to his transfer to the University of Minnesota, where he was placed on life support.

Allard’s situation was critical, with doctors painting a grim picture of just a 1 per cent chance of survival and the reality that the young man would have to receive a lung transplant. Despite the odds, his family decided to fight. Allard’s grandmother, Doreen, vividly recalled: “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.”

Allard was a heavy vaper, despite persistent warnings from his family to quit:“We kept telling him that over and over and over again, and he was a heavy vaper. He vaped all the time, but he said, ‘It’s better than cigarettes’.”

When Allard was ultimately placed in a medically induced coma for intubation his last words to his family were: “I am scared, I don’t want to be alone.”

Doctor Stephanie Hanson at Sanford emphasised the unknown long-term effects of vaping, highlighting the novelty of e-cigarette use: “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.”

While the transplant was successful, Allard’s life has been permanently altered. The 22-year-old is prohibited from drinking alcohol or smoking and he will remain in Minneapolis for at least six months for regular check-ups. Moreover, another transplant may likely be necessary in the future.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by Allard’s relatives has raised $20,970 towards a $30,000 goal. Despite the challenges, his family remains hopeful and committed to his recovery.

As Jackson embarks on this journey to recovery, Doreen shares his desire to prevent others from making the same choices, urging them to steer clear of vaping to spare themselves from experiencing what he has had to endure.