Daniel Ament

As a junior at Grosse Pointe North High School, Daniel excelled in academics and athletics. Daniel was well liked and had many friends through his active life of competitive sailing, swimming and running. When he wasn’t practicing for regattas or meets, you could find him with friends or family on or somewhere near the water. He also had a passion for urban exploration and adventures with his friends. Daniel's ultimate goal was to attend the U.S. Naval Academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, and then pursue a career in the military.

All that changed on September 5, 2019, when Daniel became very sick as a result of a severe illness due to vaping. He was 16 years old. After spending 29 days on life support, Daniel faced imminent death prior to receiving the gift of life with the first double lung transplant in the world from a vaping-related illness on October 15, 2019. While Daniel is doing well, full recovery from a lung transplant can take months or months.

Today, Daniel is committed to sharing his story publicly and launching a non-profit organization that will encourage young people to live a healthier and happier lifestyle and improve overall mental wellness with training for counselors, coaches and parents to provide alternatives for coping with the pressures of being a teenager void of substances.  Daniel graduated high school in the spring of 2021, and he is currently attending Wayne State University Ilitch School of Business.