A mother’s worst fear became reality when a panicked phone call from her daughter revealed a struggle to breathe. What followed was a diagnosis that sounds like a relic from an industrial accident, not a consequence of a habit common among teenagers. Seventeen-year-old Brianne Cullen was diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe and irreversible lung condition more commonly known as “popcorn lung.” Her story is now a stark warning from health experts about the hidden chemicals lurking in vaping products, especially those marketed with enticing flavors.
Brianne’s journey began years earlier. Like many teens, she turned to vaping at age 14, seeking relief from anxiety. For three years, she used a flavored vape monthly, a habit her mother, Christie Martin, was unaware of until the health consequences became impossible to ignore. Brianne began getting sick frequently, a pattern her mother now connects directly to vaping. The crisis peaked when cheerleading practice, demanding intense physical exertion, pushed her lungs to a breaking point, leading to the terrifying emergency room visit.
The diagnosis was a shock. “Popcorn lung” earned its nickname over a decade ago when workers in microwave popcorn factories fell ill from inhaling diacetyl, a chemical used to create buttery flavor. This same compound has been found in many flavored e-cigarettes. The condition causes scarring and narrowing of the lungs’ smallest airways, leading to a persistent cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath—symptoms Brianne now lives with. Doctors caught her case early, but the long-term damage is permanent and the future impact remains uncertain.
Brianne’s mother is now on a mission to spread awareness, facing unfair criticism in the process. She urges parents to move past judgment and share information, noting that societal understanding of vaping risks is where public knowledge of cigarette dangers was decades ago. Her message is clear: this is a community health issue requiring collective action, not parental shaming. Brianne has quit vaping and uses an inhaler to manage her breathing, a daily reminder of the habit’s cost.
Medical experts and lung associations are amplifying this caution. Studies, including one from Harvard, have found diacetyl and similar harmful chemicals in a high percentage of flavored e-cigarette brands. When inhaled directly into the lungs, these substances pose a serious risk, particularly to young users. Brianne’s case transforms abstract warnings into a tangible, human story, highlighting an urgent need for greater regulation of vaping products and honest conversations about their potential to cause lasting harm.
