Vaping Left Arizona Mom's Lungs 'Crispy' and Tearing

An Arizona woman's belief that vaping was healthier than smoking led to severe lung damage, with her lungs reportedly becoming "crispy" and tearing. Kara Mullins, 49, switched to vaping four years ago after nearly three decades of smoking. When she contracted the flu in December 2025, her respiratory issues quickly escalated.

Mullins' condition worsened, leading to hospitalization and transfer to the ICU, where she was placed on a ventilator. Doctors informed her husband that while the flu caused inflammation, vape residue had made her lungs fragile. This fragility, they explained, caused her lungs to tear as they attempted to expand for breathing.

She was placed in a medically-induced coma and later transferred to a larger hospital in Phoenix. After a week unconscious, doctors confirmed significant lung inflammation and damage due to the vape residue. Although she no longer requires supplemental oxygen, Mullins has experienced permanent lung damage, including scar tissue, and struggles with physical activity.

Mullins, who has quit vaping, is now urging others, especially young people, to avoid the habit. She emphasizes the potential for permanent damage or even death, advocating for valuing one's health over vaping.