Another vaping casualty? Utah father-of-three is in a medically-induced coma for a rare lung infection that his wife says ‘e-cig juices’ triggered
- Father-of-three Sean Bills, 31, from West Valley City, Utah, and his wife Tiffani vaped every day for two years
- Earlier this month, he started experiencing stomach pains and breathing issues so he went the hospital
- Sean went to Jordan Valley Hospital, where he was diagnosed with lipid pneumonia, a rare condition in which fat particles inflame the lungs
- His condition is believed to be caused from his vaping habit and doctors have placed him in a medically induced coma
A Utah father-of-three has been placed in a medically-induced coma after vaping gave him pneumonia, his family says,
Sean Bills, 31, from West Valley City, and his wife, Tiffani, vaped every day for two years without issue.
But Tiffani says that 10 days ago, her husband started experiencing shortness of breath, reported FOX 13.
He was rushed to Jordan Valley Hospital where doctors discovered he had contracted a rare form of pneumonia and placed him on a ventilator after he could no longer breathe on his own.
Sean is the latest of the more than 150 people across the US that have come down with severe, mysterious lung illnesses believed to be linked to vaping.
Father-of-three Sean Bills, 31, from West Valley City, Utah, and his wife, Tiffani, vaped every day for two years. Pictured: Sean, far left back row, with his wife, Tiffani, and their three children
Earlier this month, he started experiencing stomach pains and breathing issues so he went the hospital. Pictured: Sean, left, with his daughter
Sean started experiencing stomach pains earlier this month, but didn’t know what was wrong, according to a GoFundMe page.
He went to the hospital and was sent home with antibiotics. But when he began having trouble breathing, he went back to the hospital on Saturday, August 17.
‘He ended up being admitted and… [doctors] found…infection filled from top to bottom in both lungs,’ Tiffani wrote on the GoFundMe page.
‘His breathing then got so bad that he ended up having to be intubated.’
Doctors diagnosed Sean with lipid pneumonia, a rare condition that occurs when fat particles enter the lungs and inflame them.
- 19-year-old filed a lawsuit against Juul as a ‘corrupt… US lawmakers demand to see e-cigarette health effects…
‘These are the juices possibly that are causing the issue,’ Tiffani told FOX 13, showing the bottles the couple used for their vaping devices.
Some people have mild or no symptoms at while other people may experience chest pain, coughing and breathing issues.
It occurs in just one percent to 2.5 percent of the population, according to a 2003 study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
Sean’s diagnosis comes on the heels of news that federal health officials are investigating an epidemic of breathing illnesses related to vaping across the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration say there are 153 possible cases in teens and young adults in 16 states.
Sean went to Jordan Valley Hospital, where he was diagnosed with lipid pneumonia, a rare condition in which fat particles inflame the lungs. Pictured: Sean, right, with his wife, Tiffani
His condition is believed to be caused from his vaping habit and doctors have placed him in a medically induced coma
Doctors say the illnesses resemble an inhalation injury, with the lungs apparently reacting to a caustic substance. So far, infectious diseases have been ruled out.
No single vaping product or compound has been linked to all of the cases, and officials said it’s not clear if there’s a common cause.
In Utah, cases have doubled within days.
Five cases were reported on Monday, but that number has now risen to 10 according to the Utah Department of Health.
Tiffani told FOX 13 that after her husband was admitted to the hospital, she vowed to give up vaping and hope this entourages others to follow her lead.
‘Stop, Stop right now before it gets worse. I mean, it’s not worth your life,’ she said.
The family has started a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of Sean’s medical bills. As of Thursday afternoon, $570 has been raised out of a $5,000 goal.
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.