Jake Tapper shares harrowing story of daughter's near-fatal misdiagnosis | CNN

A new government report found more than 7 million incorrect diagnoses are made in US emergency rooms every year. CNN's Jake Tapper shares his personal experience from when his 14-year-old daughter Alice almost died as a result of a misdiagnosis.
#CNN #News

[@Cj-en4fj]

Facts. When you're advocating for a loved one in the hospital, it's NOT the time to be polite.

[@sososanchez3512]

#DamRyte!!

[@eveb3749]

That is so true.

[@susanquenneville2462]

True , but if you cross a certain line , the staff will dismiss your frustration , and this dismissal could prevent you from getting the immediate care you need !

[@sososanchez3512]

@susanquenneville2462 This is true b we don't care about that.. My mom went to a rehab facility.. For Parkinson's.. They tried to give her medication she didn't need.. Like I told them she's not a resident.She's here for p t.. I. Took days my sister took nights... Staff can be horrible overworked Underpaid.. We don't yell we don't scream.. You can't talk at us.You can talk to us... I believe that they are so used to families not being there... When you have family that is there, It's different..

[@nameisprivate5429]

@@susanquenneville2462not something you care about when you already have a diagnosis but still have to cycle through the ER to get to your regular floor on admit. Sometimes the ER staff are just clueless and u have to point out the obvious to the people who should be better trained.

[@Aalisrocklist]

Every time a medic refuses to order a test that you are requesting, ask them to document their reasons on the chart/medical history.

[@monohydrate2]

Medics don't order tests, physicians do.

[@juslookin3]

@@monohydrate2 Actually, "clinicians" do.

[@LadyBirch]

@@monohydrate2 this person is probably from a different country than the USA. They have different terms for different things.

[@lisadavis9535]

I agree, but that alone will not help. If they refuse and document their reasons for refusing, they still miss the diagnosis.

[@Isynchromissity]

Good advice

[@Cindycinnis]

As a registered nurse, I applaud Mr. Tapper and his wife for their persistence in getting care for his beautiful daughter! Every person of every age needs an advocate when they are hospitalized! They need to hear, and help the patient make decisions about their care. I am so happy their stress is over and they are sharing this story with the nation.

[@MrErikn1986]

soo a sonogram for every single patient who has abdominal pain? You never made a mistake as a nurse?

[@Isynchromissity]

I had cancer misdiagnosed by 7 doctors. I have severe mistrust and anxiety about medical care now

[@jjones3566]

OMG. So sorry, that must have been horrible to be misdiagnosed for so long.

[@Daniel-sh3os]

My mother was told she had pancreas cancer and wasn't told until two weeks after she had whipple surgery that she didn't have cancer. She had a biopsy procedure aborted before they could get a tissue sample and her small intestine was perforated and she became septic. A doctor saved her life, but then told us that she had pancreas cancer and it was confirmed by Sloan Kettering hospital. We should have waited for her to heal and get another biopsy, but doctors were afraid of the cancer spreading outside the pancreas.

[@PHOENIXAHELO]

My brother almost died from this in 2005, he was 22 YO. Doctors said it was food poisoning because there was no way he could still be alive if it was appendicitis (he had severe abdominal pain for 3 days straight) If it weren't for a random lady in the emergency waiting room convincing my mom that it was MIGHT be appendicitis he would have died. P.S. PLEASE be forceful and respectful when it comes to your loved ones in an emergency room situation. Doctors and nurses are human beings and they can be wrong.

[@sheritacotten5293]

yes indeed prayers that we all continue to be forceful while trying to respect the doctors they do not know it all medically

[@etx8920]

Corrupt doctors are causing medical malpractice to be the 3rd largest cause of death with 95% going unpunished.

[@darwinawardcommittee]

I worked with a guy who was sick for like 6 months. On and off. Kept losing weight. Turns out the appendix had a small perforation that would open and close just leaking.

[@airam-sj2172]

They can be wrong but when they allow their ego to interfere with their humanity it is not a "mistake" anymore.

[@bro6568]

@@darwinawardcommittee that’s horrible I couldn’t imagine.. my appendix almost ruptured like hers but we got to the hospital just in time and they rushed me back it was scary bc I was a little fella 😅 they just thought I had stomach problems at first

[@franksteffero7714]

I was misdiagnosed as a child. My mother called a local physician who diagnosed my condition of fever and abdominal pain over the phone as constipation and told her to give me an enema. Instead she rushed me to a hospital in a nearby town where I was correctly diagnosed and rushed into surgery. The hospital surgeon told Mom that had she waited, I would have died. Thank you, Mom.

[@B-ch6uk]

Was it your appendix as well?

[@cjb2749]

I'd give my life for my kids, but if their doctor told me they needed an enema, I'd rush them to the hospital too... no way I'M gonna be doing it.

[@JulieR73]

The same thing happened to me only it was my gallbladder. Once they finally did an ultrasound after multiple ER trips, they said oh, your gallbladder needs to come out, right now! They did surgery that night! It still infuriates me years later!

[@ChanteMcCormick]

Mama knew something wasn't right and didn't let up!

[@Time12345A]

❤

[@amyspeers8012]

As a pediatric nurse, I always listen to parents. They see their kiddos every day and can see the smaller changes that give great info. So sorry this happened to your sweet daughter.

[@sadepennbrook]

It was a nurse that caught my infection. No thanks to the good for nothing physician who quite literally told me I needed to vacate his bed because there were too many other sicker patients than me that needed it altho my labs were showing my potassium/sodium dropping. He came back very quickly sweating up a storm when he got my labs back. Idiot.

[@FreeRadicals305]

Not only parents of children but other family member of adults. I'm a retired nurse and saw families being ignored too often. Yes, they can interfere but unless they're 'frequent fliers', listen!

[@jimcarrington6744]

You are the exception, not the usual. My experience is not fit for public consumption.

[@GenXBitch]

That’s great to hear! Many doctors/nurses get mad. My kids are adults now but when they were little we had the best pediatrician! I’m not exaggerating even a little. He really was the best! He listened to me and the kids. I wish we could still see him! Lol he retired a while ago.

[@deborahxavier1851]

That is so true. You can be given medicine that make you worst.

[@valexander8891]

My grandson went through this. He was hospitalized for over 80 days and is blessed to be alive as well! Thank you Tappers for sharing this story!

[@bhumphries1360]

My daughter was misdiagnosed at age 2. They said that she had gastroenteritis. Even her pediatrician said that was what was wrong. I will never forget waking up on a Sunday afternoon from a nap, and looking over at her and feeling such a heavy weight of fear. I knew something was wrong, but I could not get anyone to listen to me. My mother's intuition was telling me that there was more going on, much more. So, I decided that day I was done going back into the pediatrician's office. And, I was done going to my local emergency room. I packed up our bags and drove very far to the children's hospital in my state. My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and by the time that we got there she was in diabetic ketoacidosis with a blood sugar of almost 800. I had never felt more scared in my entire life. She was so sick. All she had been doing was vomiting, and at this point she could no longer sit up on her own. She had lost almost 15 lbs, which at age 2 is quite a bit. My daughter is now 18 years old and doing so much better. I agree with the mother in the story. Be the advocate for your child. I was not going to give up no matter what it took, I went with my intuition. A mother's intuition is always right!

[@chi21no]

You're a hero mom. That's why I never disagree with my wife lol.

[@greatestshopper1077]

My MOTHER did the same for me and even though it took me 34 years to get a diagnosis. My Mothers examples of ALWAYS Advocating for me taught me how to ADVOCATE for myself. Thirty four years advocating helped me finally get diagnosed several months after I self diagnosed. And another 14 years to finally getting an effective treatment for my condition.

[@angelinasouren]

You took action. You kicked ass. I want to say something great but words are failing me at the moment. Thanks for kicking ass for your daughter.

[@carlyar5281]

I had chills reading this. Mothers intuition is always right! I have two little ones and I completely understand that deep feeling when you know something is not right, although we never experienced a misdiagnosis. You are a great mom and I’m so glad your daughter is doing so much better!

[@jimcarrington6744]

Each and every time that a human speaks, their thoughts are simultaneously BROADCAST in a much richer way than can be fit into words. No belief included, I simply remember before I was taught verbal language. (mom later said that I was not a year old) Our languages serve no greater purpose than to enable dishonesty. I hope your can explain this to your children before they have children of their own. Mankind must return to being spirits, or extinction will result. MONEY is not the answer!

[@kimandcaffeine5999]

I’m starting nursing school in 3 weeks. I will not forget this story. Thank You Tapper Family.

[@123JWJWJW]

Read Bed Number 10. It will give you great perspective as well for patient care

[@silverpurkat]

Hearing Jake’s shaky voice talking about his daughter’s ordeal is every parent’s worse nightmare. The feeling of being helpless not being able to take her pain away and the emotional trauma of possibly losing your child. He has my total respect for speaking up about the misdiagnosis.

[@COnative070]

It was many years ago, but my older sister died of a burst appendix. If she would have had today’s medical knowledge of doctors she would have lived. So glad your daughter is healthy again!💙

[@Android.Paranormal]

Jake gained a TON of respect from me by sharing this. I learned also from my medical experience that doctors are just wrong sometimes, and you should question & verify what they say if it does not match your symptoms or if their treatment is not working. It's not rude to question a doctor for clarification if something doesn't seem right. If a doctor is offended by you asking questions, RUN to a 2nd opinion! Like Jakes's wife said, this is no time to be polite.

[@michaelalbert8474]

As long as CNN continues to silence the thousands that have been harmed by the jab. Remember, the medical community can do no wrong.

[@sheritacotten5293]

always had much respect for Jake and his wife and daughter

[@jokotadealatishe-adenusi2543]

You are so right, this was my son last april, thank God his didn't rupture before he got into surgery. It was very my son could have been in serious condition

[@elizagrogan9454]

@Jokotade Alatishe-Adenusi I had stomach pain 5 years ago. After a few days, I had an emergency doctor's appointment. She called an ambulance. A scan at the hospital showed a very bad appendix infection. Spent 3 weeks there as the infection was brought under control. Home for 2 weeks before they operated. I have a 14" scar from my naval to my side as the appendix had attached to my intestines. Another week in hospital before being released. I'm so grateful to my doctor and the hospital. I always thought that appendix pain was severe. That's not the reality. It is the high temperature and general malaise which also play a big part. I'm so glad Jake's daughter and your son came through okay.

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

Trouble is, sometimes a doctor is so insulted by your questioning their opinion or asking for a second opinion, that they put something on your medical record out of spite, so you won't be taken seriously by another doctor. This has happened to two people I know.

[@carolinesutton5231]

Can’t help but notice that Alice is a young woman. Doctors so often minimize young women’s pain

[@Android.Paranormal]

Its not a sexist problem. Doctors have disregarded my chronic neck pain & im a white male. So it doesn't matter who you are. If you have pain that does not show on scans or blood tests, then some doctors just dont take you serious.

[@DresdenDoll79]

@@Android.Paranormal Your being misdiagnosed would have more to do with the fact that doctors are hardly allowed to do their job anymore. Medicine is as much an art as it is a science. It takes attention and careful consideration. Something they just don't have the time for anymore. These days doctors are expected to run their practices like mills and our lives are increasingly being decided by actuarial tables and algorithms than the doctors who went to school for it. Historically women's pain has been disregarded due to many reasons, all of which basically come down to "women are unclean and icky." For much of medical history only men and male bodies were studied. Almost anything wrong with a woman was written off as hysteria and having a "weak constitution." (ie: existing is very hard for them) So @Caroline Sutton is correct about doctors often downplaying womens' pain. And it gets worse from there. And you are correct (but for a different reason) in that doctors misdiagnose an egregiously large amount of people; all races, creeds and colors . The sexism thing is just incorrect.

[@Android.Paranormal]

@K. F. you literally just proved my point in your 1st paragraph describing how its a problem with the industry... but then go on to contradict yourself. But okay, believe what you want.

[@Himmiefan]

Yes! Women are repeatedly discounted by doctors and are underserved in pain management.

[@Isynchromissity]

Women in general and it’s been happening forever.

[@sharons5714]

My daughter was at the hospital within 1/2 hour after suffering a stroke. She was misdiagnosed with a migraine. She was sent home, and for the next several days went to three more doctors. She was finally diagnosed at day 10, and is now legally blind. I’m so glad Alice survived and is now doing well.

[@mellie4174]

Yup. They're robots and they treat everyone the same. Real medical investigation is not done.

[@inthesun3884]

Heartbreaking story.

[@babasheeny3634]

At 75, I’ve seen and experienced MORE than my share of Drs mistakes! And it’s gonna get worse if we dont take control of our own and loved ones healthCARE! Trust your “gut feeling” ALWAYS and do not be intimidated by Drs.

[@mkuti-childress3625]

And part of the problem is that ER doctors never get to learn from their mistakes the majority of times this happens. ER doctors almost never learn what happened to a patient once that patient is discharged from the ER. So, if a patient is correctly diagnosed later-or worse, if the patient dies-they will never find out. It’s pretty scary.

[@joywimer4281]

Oh my gosh I'm so sorry

[@grumylynn]

What a nightmare. I'm happy your daughter is okay now.

[@nrsjeni2351]

This happened to my brother, he was told numerous times that he had diverticulitis. Then suddenly the pain was overwhelming, the ER doctor assumed appendicitis, he was taken to surgery without CT or ultrasound. His colon was ruptured from a huge tumor. Stage 4 colon cancer at 26. He had gone to the doctor numerous times in the months leading up to this event. It’s sad when doctors write off what patients say.

[@annconforti9294]

Pretty common, though

[@nrsjeni2351]

@@annconforti9294 colon cancer at 26 isn’t very common, ruptured colon vs ruptured appendix would be difficult to determine without pre-op testing.

[@djondjon]

I hope the best for your brother.

[@olinewright6877]

after I moved to Australia and married my husband the first doctor I went to was more of a push-button doctor (put the symptoms into the computer and come up with a diagnosis. She had been treating a sinus infection as asthma eventually I got her to treat me for a sinus infection. She was treating me for diabetes using Metformin and I told her the medicine was causing diarrhea/ loose stools and if I took meds to treat that symptom I would end up not going for three days and it would be back to the loose stools. She told me that it didn't work that way. Personally, I think I did better diagnosing myself than she did. The last straw was when she said my body did not work well with medicines. Since I grew up in the States I was not used to not being able to just go to a different doctor because of the cost of healthcare there. One very good thing here is the medicare system which allows for ease of getting a second opinion.

[@tribalypredisposed]

So sorry, that is tragic. Doctors just are not good at listening, usually. My mom spent three months trying to get them to take her cough seriously; she has Stage 4 lung cancer. And she self diagnosed having had a silent heart attack and saw four doctors over four months just trying to get a damned referral to a specialist for testing, and yep she had had a heart attack.

[@outermarker5801]

If this can happen to people of means and influence who WANT to pay for tests even as a caution, I shudder to think what happens to regular, or worse poor folks. Kudos to Jake for using his resources and name to help save his child, any parent SHOULD. And to mom for being an absolute warrior. Thank you all for highlighting this critical issue. All the best to Alice going forward.

[@curiouscat3384]

Yes, that's why mortality rates are higher for poor people.

[@maplebones]

Jake's pissed. He didn't mention any names, but everybody from the janitor up in the hospital that treated his daughter will know who he is.

[@YogaBlissDance]

@@curiouscat3384 Only in part, other things poor have is worse food (so nutrition,) housing things like lead etc...exposure to toxins etc...

[@tribalypredisposed]

Every family where one of the parents or grandparents is a doctor at a hospital knows that family members sometimes have to go to that hospital where they work to get the treatment they need. One time they flew my mom from Arizona to Minneapolis to go to her dad's hospital. It is not right but it is reality, and after the personal family members of the staff there, the next level of care is provided to the wealthy, and so on. Doctors even give you better care if they do not think you are "complaining" too much. They love my mom and my family because we have a rare genetic trait where we do not feel very much pain. So when mom had eleven tumors including one compromising her spine they loved it that they would ask how she was doing and she would say, oh, pretty good...and that is not right or okay but it is reality.

[@cockeyedoptimista]

Such a good point. Yeah, it's so weird that they wouldn't give her that test! It's been my experience that they want to test for everything that they can charge you for. Also, they should listen to the patient and to the mother. Sounds like stupid doctors.

[@TheStuport]

I very much appreciate Alice and her Parents for WANTING to share this story about misdiagnosis and how in fact many can become fatal calls too.

[@roselande9841]

Yes.

[@cnnothingburgerletsgobrand6381]

I'm just shocked a CNN 'man' was with a woman once.

[@Denidrakes69]

@@cnnothingburgerletsgobrand6381 Huh?

[@etx8920]

BIPOC usually have an even more difficult experience and are silenced since we don't have CNN reporting our stories. Corrupt doctors are causing medical malpractice to be the 3rd largest cause of death with 95% going unpunished.

[@johnishikawa2200]

Prince and friends: We know that these maggots with the red hats are out there. This galvanized the rest of us in the latest election cycle, as the results of the midterms has shown. As for me - well I wouldn't dignify this trolls post with a reply. They can have QAnon sleepovers where they can fantasize about political power, and swap off the wall conspiracy theories. But the voters will eventually purge Congress of these election denying, climate change denying traitors, and ultimately we will see that coyote with the initials DJT at his arraignment hearing, and we will have justice.

[@jeah8259]

I am in tears watching this video as the same happened to my daughter several years ago, I had to take her twice to the ER, they finally took her for an emergency surgery. My daughters is doing well now but my emotions of helplessness I felt still stings my heart.

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I went through this for an entire year! Vomiting, fever, and severe stomach pain. My parents weren't as supportive though. The pediatrician just kept thinking it was the flu and they took that as a reason not to look any further because it was inconvenient. At 15 I had to beg them to take me to a specialist because every 3 weeks it was flaring up to the point that I was incapacitated and I just couldn't take it anymore. Instead of being worried they were over it because it interrupted their schedule and got angry at me because I had to walk hunched over due to the severe stomach pain and so they sent me to school in that condition. My color was gray or green like this girl's and the teacher asked me why my parents were sending me to school and that I should be in bed. I wish she had called social services. Maybe I would have had the medical care I needed sooner. Finally they took me to see a surgeon who felt my stomach and could feel a mass right away. He told me I needed emergency surgery, but I was so conditioned to ignore it and move on that I told him that I couldn't because I had a paper due for school that I had to turn in. He said to me "I don't think you understand. You are going to die if you don't have this surgery as soon as possible!" After I woke up from surgery the doctor came in and told me they removed a cup of pus from an abscess that had formed, and that if it had not gone into this abscess throughout that year before I was correctly diagnosed I'd have been dead. Things were so messed up in there they could not even find the appendix to remove it. I had drains in me afterwards and was on IV antibiotics for close to a month before I could be discharged. Just like in this story, my appendix had to be removed a year later. Something about that experience changed me. I was never the same afterwards. I lost all my self-confidence, and became severely depressed. It took me a long time to bounce back because I was made to feel like a burden by my parents who resented having to care for me. Parents who are watching this and reading the comments; if you won't advocate for your child then give him or her to somebody who will. No child should have to suffer like this and then feel it's their own fault. I have also had some bad experiences with doctors misdiagnosing me and failing to diagnose and treat medical conditions since. And to doctors; do the imaging tests. It will save time, and possibly somebody's life!

[@gaylafrasier7276]

So very sorry for your lousy parents, because that's what they were. So many people should never even have children. This is a reflection on them-NOT YOU! I am glad to hear you are ok now-but you know life is short. Everyday try to shake off all those detrimental feelings and live for yourself! You ARE worth it!

[@gives_bad_advice]

The good thing is that you're learning to take care of yourself.

[@claudiavalenzuela1996]

I’m sorry…..This too shall pass…..and this will make you stronger / Trust the Lord with all your ❤ after the ☔️ comes 🌈

[@8675-__]

Your very lucky! And I had parents just like that. It's pretty common unfortunately.

[@thereplacementfordisplacement]

You don't always learn positive ways to behave from those in your life, unfortunately.

[@een_schildpad]

"When you're in the hospital, it's not the time to be polite" that really rings true to me from personal experience. As someone who tends to be "polite" in daily life, I've seen first hand how in a hospital you need to break that "momentum" sometimes and to do that you sometimes need to be firm, insistent, and maybe even downright disruptive. I wish I'd known that before my own hospital experience.

[@MusikGirl23]

It’s so hard for me, because I’m so polite almost to an extreme, I start apologizing for even being there or for having symptoms like vomiting or trouble walking requiring a commode. i have some chronic conditions that sometimes require ER level care. i always delay going and am so patient…i know they're super busy, so i don't like to 'bother' staff…even though it's their job to provide care…i grew up being medically neglected for my health conditions and other things that would pop up, so as an adult i have had to relearn how to care for myself and advocate.

[@queens6583]

I retired after 44 years as an ICU nurse and learned never to disregard the concerns of family members or the patient themselves because they notice the things staff may disregard. I had a ruptured appendix at 16 which almost killed me, a ruptured ovarian cyst with internal bleeding at 23, and a hysterectomy at 50 with a post op MRSA infection. I knew each time that something was drastically wrong, because we all know our own bodies better than anyone. Even as a nurse I had times when I knew something was going wrong with my patient even though the cardiac monitor's and vital signs were still normal". Sometimes it's a change in skin color, a change in mental status or pt's demeanor. There were times I would call the house staff to express my concerns and they would think I was being dramatic, that is until something would happen and the pt. would suddenly deteriorate. I always told new ICU nurses never be afraid to admit you don't know something, express concerns about your patient or go over the house staff's head and call the ICU Attending if you think your pt.'s condition is changing. I'm so sorry that you and your daughter had this harrowing experience.

[@caroljoy839]

The sad thing is that these days there is even less respect shown to those who want what is best for the patients than there was back in the day. Especially in places like state of CA and WA, where "standard of care" is all about test results. (As well as the output of machinery reading vital signs.) Few people realize that those "reading" the CAT scan results sometimes are forced by employers to read over 20K scans a day. And I have heard of those who are forced to try for a quota of 30K a day.

[@deborahxavier1851]

Agreed! Symptoms have a cause. I believe people get stuck on what it should be instead of what it actually is currently.

[@gaylafrasier7276]

@@caroljoy839 You have really been through it! Fellow RN here, I must say you sound like the type of RN to aspire to-actually "seeing" the patient, advocating for them! I have been on both ends of the system and I am at times appalled at healthcare here. Insurance companies put you through so many hoops just to get care, when you feel your worst. Not staffing adequately is one of the absolute disgraces in hospitals. We all know the "jokes" about not even getting to use the bathroom. I wanted to become a nurse to actually give comfort AND care to my patients-not literally run in and out of the rooms! Sigh.

[@SerenityPeaceTree]

Thank you for being an advocate! I can't tell you how many times I told the nursing home staff that my mom had (she's ok now) delirium caused by UTI and sepsis, NOT dementia. Finally after 6 months and infections abating, her cognition came back and they all exclaim "her cognition is intact" at care meetings. It takes everything I have to NOT say "told you so"... I also knew every time I had issues to keep speaking up. I had one nurse say "you have PTSD". I said "Damn straight and it's because I wasn't taken care of properly before and had acute renal failure because of your negligence. Check my bladder output, now." It's amazing to me how medical staff brush off my observations of my loved ones. Only one NP actually listen to me and asked questions to find out my mom had another UTI. I gave her kudos and thanked her a lot. Love to you

[@NMW80]

Ty so many doctors are neglecting people in Australia too. So many incompetent doctors.

[@erinlecroy1990]

Same exact thing that my 4 year old daughter had happen. Sat there for 3 days before they did ct scan, our wonderful pediatrician came to the hospital and told the doctor and nurses that they needed to “listen to that mom sitting in that bed right there”, I’m so thankful our daughter lived. We first went to ER, they sent us home, went back a couple hours later and wanted to send us home but I told them no. They had been giving her morphine from the start. They did the jump test on her, she jumped just like most kids would if they were told. Her appendix ended up rupturing Same exact thing that happened to this young girl happened to my daughter. Once they did the ct, they said they would have it read the next morning, I then called the pediatrician and told him what they said, and I knew it was appendicitis, he called back 3 mins later and said they are coming to get her for emergency surgery. My baby girl almost died and I’m so thankful I didn’t stop telling them this is not a virus…she was then septic and stayed in the hospital for 5 days after the 3 …

[@denisewebster5655]

My pediatrician always told me that he trusted a mom's instincts over testing. I could always tell when my oldest had yet another strep throat or ear infection by his behaviors, which did not meet the usual symptoms, but just because he was acting so different than his normal!

[@secretsocietyofdeadgoldminers]

I live in Canada. Two weeks ago I was rushed to emergency with abdominal pain. The medical team immediately took me in for a CT scan among other tests and determined that my appendix should be removed. An hour later I was in surgery. My appendix had ruptured between the time they took the CT scan and the time they operated so luckily I had minimal seepage. I cannot imagine what this girl went through, I cried when I watched the video. I am 60 years old, not 14, I cannot imagine what my recovery would have looked like had they not diagnosed me immediately. My heart goes out to this young lady, I am so glad that she is OK. Maybe CT Scan needs to be part of the equation in your country as well. Happy holidays to you all.

[@mellie4174]

And voilà the magic of nationalized health care. When it's affordable doctors can just do whatever tests they want! Thank god i left america and moved to France !

[@inthesun3884]

Unfortunately in the US it is not the doctors who decided a cat scan or testing is needed, it’s the insurance companies. If it’s not typical, or an obvious emergency, I’m 100% sure it would be denied. So there could be many layers to why healthcare would ignore or even avoid testing. It’s a pain in the rear to get pre-approved for almost anything. So many people to call, paperwork to fill out and no one has the time with staff shortages. The odd thing here is the better off you are the least likely your insurance requires pre-approval. I’m not surprised they ignored the mom. Women are treated like lunatics by most US docs.

[@secretsocietyofdeadgoldminers]

Wow! That is a very very sad situation. I had no idea and I am extremely happy I live in Canada!

[@gracedagostino5231]

I live in California, and about a year ago, I went to the ER with a sharp pain in my right side and feeling very nauseous with no appetite. They did a CT scan, urine, and blood work. Within an hour I had an emergency appendectomy, and I am 68 years old now. I am on Medicare, and these hospitals have no problem billing Medicare for CT scans. I am originally from Toronto, and have many relatives throughout southern Ontario, and they complain about problems with the Canadian health care system. Like wait times for everything, and not being about to find a primary doctor.

[@Gaetano.94]

Live in Canada too. My bowel perforated a day after I had a colon resection. It hurt for over 2 days and I said something was wrong and the nurses wouldn't listen to me for over 2 days. I showed signs of sepsis when it was almost too late. Surgeon said if they waited another 2 minutes I would have been gone. Woke up with an ostomy and had 5 more surgeries in 2 years. Almost have all my bowel gone now. It was a few days before my 20th birthday

[@beck1365]

My great-grandfather died from appendicitis in his 20’s, leaving his wife to raise two small children on her own. All these years later we think it no longer happens. Thanks, Jake, Jennifer and Alice for highlighting that we can’t take health for granted. Or leave it up to doctors.

[@amorl4520]

Omg. Sorry

[@janetprice85]

My grandfather died of the same thing. He was fortyfive. I never met him sadly but all who knew him said he was a very good man.

[@joycesimmons7211]

My husband’s father died in his late twenties and his mother raised three young boys on her own.

[@mita6010]

The exact same thing happened to my daughter when she was 15. The doctors told us that because she was hungry, it could not be an appendicitis. I grabbed her and took her another hospital where they immediately took her into surgery. She was in the hospital for 10 days on intense antibiotics. Some of her organs had fused together, it was absolutely terrifying.

[@Muhdah1972]

👍💪💕

[@eldajackson1]

My grandmother saved my sister by demanding the doctors take action. My grandmother had lost her own sister to appendicitis as well as a brother-in-law so she recognized what was happening & demanded the doctors do something. My sister survived thanks to our grandmother. This was in the late 50's or early 60's.

[@angelinasouren]

Thanks for having kicked ass for your daughter. 🥰

[@pitt007ful]

That's super scary, especially doctors not paying no attention to the parents.

[@gr36913]

This particular misdiagnosis has been going on forever. 65+ years ago I spent a year w/ my parents, teachers, and doctors being angry with me for "trying to get attention." That was the only diagnosis they could come up w/ along with having "growing pains." One doctor finally did a fluoroscope, saw no appendix, so turned me around and discovered my appendix was enormous and in back instead of in front. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and into surgery just in time. I'm thrilled for Alice and her family and grateful they are bringing this to everyone's attention.

[@johnsnell1929]

Wow, this particular kind of malpractice is just so rampant! Always dismiss things as somehow psychological / emotional so that the patient is left with no way to defend themself. Was used on me many times in my life. Also on my mother when she was in a "Rehab Hospital" after a stroke - her worsening illness, nausea and vomiting, and inability to eat was "a play for attention" and they wouldn't do anything to help her, so I checked her out and took her back to the ER, where they found severe C-Diff infection and immediately put her on antibiotics and into a quarantine room! In addition to the risk to her and prolonged recovery, how many other of their patients did that "rehab" infect while pretending there was nothing wrong with her? Disgusting. So glad you survived yours... thanks for sharing.

[@angelinasouren]

So sorry that happened to you.

[@angelinasouren]

@@johnsnell1929 Yeah, it sucks! You're sometimes better off not getting medical help because the contempt does not help you heal at all, to the contrary. A notable exception is when you urgently need antibiotics. I am a migrant in a country where they really have little more but utter contempt for women over 45. We're all seen as having dementia and being cantankerous and being far too demanding and attention-seekers if we merely want to be normally healthy. (Fortunately, I often know better what's what than the doctors. That not only feels utterly ridiculous, it's also reassuring.)

[@agreen9833]

If you don’t mind me asking how old are you if this happen 65 years ago 😮 happy your ok now

[@johnsnell1929]

@@angelinasouren Hi Angelina, sorry to hear of your experiences, too. Yeah I just end up avoiding doctors if at all possible, which is a shame, as they COULD help with preventative things, if they chose to. All this stuff happened to us with full health insurance and in the town where I've lived all my life! I'm sure it gets only much worse with a situation such as yours, as a migrant. Any little reason to dismiss somebody's concerns.

[@fuzzy6006]

The exact same atrocity happened to my niece, because the doctors were so convinced of their infallibility. They need to be held accountable so that they take other people's health more seriously.

[@charmingjinx9379]

Doctors use pattern recognition, so it's pretty hard to expect them to use their intuition the same way a parent does. That's why, rather than hold doctors accountable, it's about training. The best doctors know that they must consider feedback from family members when make diagnosis, especially when it's children.

[@maryhall4232]

Not all adult diseases or infections get to stay with an adult. There are so many auto-immune diseases and viruses that mimic them, just do it all to get to the bottom. There needs to be a way to turn these medical facilities off the managed care function and back to real pain and history of family, even generations back. The new doctors need to keep learning every day- Dr. GOOGLE is NOT all that bad if you use excellent clinical locations for the details of symptoms, testings, and treatments. As a Unicorn Patient, l often have to get my own team of doctors to talk with each other to concur on what is the best treatment for my multiple AIs and Nerve issues from medicines that later cause sideeffects.

[@alejohernandez75]

Doctors are scientists. You must not doubt The Science. The Science is always right. The SCIENCE.

[@history6988]

It happened to me also. Three doctors said I had a viral infection when it was bacterial and easily treated with antibiotics. A bartender accurately diagnosed me, and saved my life, after only a ten-minute phone conversation..

[@ReGenMed83]

Half the time it is the PAs and NPs. Anyone in a white coat is a doctor these days. I was told I had rhabdo by a PA. Luckily, I didn't believe it and the treatment is benign but the damn PA was so convinced and I immediately asked for an actual doctor. Was out of there in no time. Thank God.

[@catherinehall5692]

The mother of a friend died a few years ago from a ruptured appendix. She was misdiagnosed several times as well. I remember thinking, “how is that possible?”. Thanks for sharing your story, so glad Alice is better now.

[@ggraves7321]

Happens every single day for poor folks and minorities- EVERY SINGLE DAY! Glad Alice recovered. Peace 🕊

[@ev500sam]

I went to the ER, having labored breathing and was diagnosed with a sinus infection prescribed narcotic cough syrup and the next night, my shortness of breath was so bad, that I honestly didn’t think I would make it back to the ER, this time a different ER doctor said it’s a good thing you came back because your having a heart attack. My heart was literally being suffocated by fluid buildup.

[@DeeDee-tq4cg]

My deep gratitude to Alice and her parents for sharing her/their story. I had a similar situation when I was in my mid 30s. I had had six children by that time and the doctor just felt that the pain I was experiencing was probably some thing dealing with me getting older and the number of children I had. He gave me a shot of morphine and sent me home. (I also had to do the jump test). My pain never centralized. 12 hrs later the pain was unbearable so the doctor did a blood test. That simple blood test showed my white cells were off the charts. My husband drove me to the hospital. There they did an emergency appendectomy. Unfortunately, my appendix had already ruptured. Recovery for me took over six months. Misdiagnosis can be deadly. I am so grateful that Alice is doing so well! Again, thank you for sharing her story.

[@curiouscat3384]

Morphine for pain not important enough to test further? I'm sorry you had to go thru that.

[@user-uj6sc7ls9y]

😠 I hope you recovered 100% from that ordeal.

[@MISNM0]

😖🫂💛

[@angelinasouren]

🫂

[@MossyMozart]

@Dee Dee - Malpractice.

[@whocares5114]

Thanks for sharing this personal story, i am glad she is doing ok.

[@yourgrace3377]

Stay away from children 💪🏽

[@mb5612]

The same thing happened to my daughter when she was 27. She went to the emergency room complaining of severe abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting . They told her it was menstrual cramps, even though she wasn’t on her period, and even though she told them the pain was 100 times worse than menstrual pain. They sent her home with pain medication, but she was back in the ER the next day after collapsing. Her appendix had ruptured and she almost died. This misdiagnosis happens more often with young women than with young men. Be your own advocate!!!!!

[@ctryclb]

Happened to me in 2000 in my 30’s. Went to emergency clinic on Monday & was told it was flu. By Wednesday I felt like a burst erupted in my abdomen & knew that was bad. Went to hospital & they gave me pain meds. They were upset that hour later I was still in pain. Finally at ct scan showed my appendix had ruptured. Emergency surgery & dr told my family that I was very sick & very lucky. It’s frustrating when you feel like no one is listening to what you are telling them.

[@Swnsasy]

I was and put on HORRIBLE medication that almost killed me because I said 3 different symptoms that, according to 4 doctors, should have told these 2 doctors that their diagnosis was 100% incorrect.... My boyfriend at the time wouldn't even listen to me when I kept saying, something is wrong, this isn't right... He would say, we aren't doctors so listen to them... If I didn't advocate for myself I would no longer be above ground... Thank you for sharing your story Jake... It really means a lot!!

[@stormchaser8472]

I kind of know where you're coming from they diagnosed me with afib when I had drink way too much and my heart was completely flipping out due to being severely dehydrated and they gave me medication for AFib but literally never told me a damn thing about it! Well it turns out you can't have sinus medication with it at all and I did and it made me horrendously sick that almost put me back in the hospital itself

[@eloisemarie5219]

Glad you are good. Hope that damn boyfriend is gone.

[@Swnsasy]

@@eloisemarie5219 YES! I couldn't believe he would watch me hallucinating, falling asleep with food in my mouth and would laugh and the always, "you'll get use to it, stop acting like you're a doctor!" Good riddence and I'm doing much better but unfortunately, because it took so much time to fix me it's a long painful road but I'm 80% better and will be fully by April!! Thank you so much!!

[@maggiemaloney8599]

I had appendicitis at 25. They could not diagnose it as it never showed up in my blood tests. After almost a week of being given nothing but pain reliever, my father-in-law rushed me to the hospital and called his surgeon at midnight who performed exploratory surgery. The appendix had just begun to perforate. My father-in-law saved my life.

[@patboury6730]

Thank you for bringing attention to this issue. And thank Alice for sharing

[@rebeccaharper7859]

This happened to me 50 years ago.Thankfully it was still the age of General Practice.The doctor that had delivered me was still my Dr even though I was now an adult.The hospital ignored me.This wonderful caring man gave me life once again.He noticed my name on the hospital roster and stopped to check on me.Immediately performed surgery and save my life.

[@andigordon8397]

Thank Jesus for those guardian angels 😇

[@elenalatici9568]

I grew up with a GP like that. House calls, great diagnostician, and close family friend.

[@carolweltee6752]

It was your Mother who gave you life when she delivered you...

[@myphone-ph4hh]

You need doctors who are invested in the patients wellbeing.

[@janicebemyheart194]

Those were the days! I had a doctor like that to!

[@lisasheythe6521]

I took my son in with a massive bleeding ear which is a fatal sign of his brain condition. They heard me tell them several times about his condition and they blew me off and left us sitting in the waiting room of the ER while I was grabbing tissues to soak up the blood pouring out of his ear. I went back up and said “this is an emergency he needs to be seen now” but since a receptionist determines it wasn’t serious I was told I had to wait until our turn came. I asked how long and she said maybe a couple hours. I immediately took my son to another hospital and they took his situation seriously. He was seen immediately. Thankfully it was just a massive ear infection, but had it not been the 1st hospital was willing to just let him bleed without even looking at him. The 2nd hospital was shocked he wasn’t seen immediately with his medical issue. I’m a firm believer that if you’re not getting the right answers you go somewhere else. I learned that when my heart started acting up and skipping beats causing me to pass out. That doctor determined I was having a panic attack even though my blood work showed otherwise. I left immediately knowing it wasn’t a panic attack and went to another hospital. There they knew I was in cardiac distress and treated me the correct way. I was not about to listen to the 1st doctor that completely dismissed my symptoms. Thankfully I didn’t go home with some Xanax and die. If you have a doctor that won’t listen find another that will!! The nurse at the 1st hospital made the comment that my not believing the doctor and wanting another was rude. I’ll take being labeled rude over dead any day!! Please don’t just let a doctor run over your instincts. Be rude and find another doctor!!! They work for you!

[@lisasheythe6521]

@@anjou6497 honestly I understand why they are a bit jaded, but when they can see blood pouring out and not just dripping to the point I was given a roll of paper towels to help absorb it she needed to at least have a triage nurse come over. Have a wonderful new year!!

[@dossube]

People need to be their own medical advocate first; you’re the first to know how bad you feel and do speak up if you feel doc saying something incorrect.

[@mrs.elentz2336]

Wow, crazy!!!! I just almost lost my son just over a week ago!!!! 3 ERs, 2 of which misdiagnosed my son. His appendix ruptured, one of the worst his surgeon saw in a children’s hospital. Her story is sooooo similar!! He’s still in the hospital because his instestines aren’t working. He’s having to have his stomach pumped currently, but his doctors are confident he’ll have a full recovery, thank God!! He got his drain out that was draining infection today. Worst, scariest week of my life!!!!

[@graysonjames593]

Ohh i got to send you a request on here after noticing your profile on my page..and the main reason was that i found you really nice so i hope you dont mind having me as friend??

[@Population11]

Prayers for your son and your family. I hope he makes a full recovery ❤️‍🩹.

[@melaniem5971]

This happened to my daughter when she was 7 years old …She was under the care of TWO Directors of Pediatric Gastroenterology in two neighboring hospitals for about 9 months- It was thought she had food allergies. The pain would subside with medication and change of diet ( no acidic foods). She was always tired and loosing weight and pain would come back with vengeance. Against her doctor’s advice of “ just bring her in” , I went to the ER of another local hospital, told the doctors her medical history and said “ we are NOT leaving until we find out what’s wrong with her. They admitted her and one angel of a surgeon said “I know what’s wrong with her “. After the surgery, the doctor explained that in small young people organs are very close together and the appendix is shaped like a small shrimp and gets lost under bigger organs. Hearing your personal story Mr Trapper brought back so many memories. My daughter is now 30 years old , healthy and living her best life.

[@InspiredScience]

What a kind act, to share something so personal and traumatic, *to help others.* Thank you very much to Jake, Jennifer, and your daughter Alice.

[@BluetheRaccoon]

This happened to me, with my gallbladder. I had to go to several hospitals before someone would listen and believe me, and they then referred me for a HIDA scan which showed I had less than 13% function. I was unable to keep food down for days, it was hard to even keep hydrated so my blood looked like tar. Another few days and I would have died, but instead I was treated like a drug seeker.

[@sawdust2556]

So sorry. Thank goodness you finally got the correct care!❤🙏 This kind of thing happens more often than is reported.

[@madgreek253]

I've been going through something similar for almost 2 decades now. I have an undiagnosed stomach issue and have been hospitalized multiple times for it and after 1 of the first doctors tried to diagnose my symptoms as marijuana narcosis, I have had every doctor assume the same ever since. Even when I was completely sober for over a year and still had the same symptoms.

[@gobigorange]

Anybody with any kind of pain is considered a drug seeker in these times

[@gobigorange]

@@madgreek253 what the hell is marijuana narcosis.? 😂

[@joannefitzpatrick1902]

I once got roofied and raped and because I live across from the hospital I woke up royally pissed off, but was able to throw on some clothes and walk over to get my rape kit. I don't remember all of it because I had been roofied, I just remember being strapped down to a table and them injecting me with antipsychotics because I kept yelling at them I needed a rape kit and they kept telling me to go to sleep. I never got my rape kit, and my diagnosis was alcohol intoxication uncomplicated. If they had actually done a drug screen they could have tried to figure out what happened. Seriously, who just shows up to the ER because they've had a few drinks? I had to get my kit a week later at my doctor's office which made it pretty much f****** pointless at that point. Honestly going to the hospital and not getting the help that I needed and being strapped to a table and injected with more drugs was more traumatic than the initial altercation

[@pbrn1729]

So happy that you shared this story-more people need to know about this! So happy that Alice is OK🙏🏻

[@bleak83]

I would argue my mom died from this. She was being treated for diverticulitis for many months. She had ovarian cancer

[@donadams8345]

One thing that is missing in this story is that the doctor didn't do a fairly easy test to essentially save money. This is becoming a common practice for both tests and medications (the med isn't indicated or the test isn't indicated). You can thank insurance companies for this.

[@whazzat8015]

Yep just money and a dose of toxic radiation

[@donadams8345]

@@whazzat8015 LOL! You don't know what a sonogram is, do you.

[@gaelsdottir5046]

@@donadams8345 Maybe they don't. But I DO, and it IS a fairly easy test. It's noninvasive. It would have been painful for her because the tech would have to press the transducer firmly into her abdomen. And unfortunately she'd have had to keep a full bladder to assure the imaging could properly distinguish internal structures, so extra discomfort along with that pain. But it would also have been definitive. It's not just insurance companies. Docs are more and more being trained to just check the boxes and never ever think outside them. And there is no shortage of pride involved: how dare a mere mother tell them what tests to run. [How dare a mere mother know exactly what should have been done to save her daughter sepsis, suffering, and trauma from multiple surgeries when one, done early enough, might have sufficed!]

[@FreeRadicals305]

Going waaaay back, Johnny Carson used to have a Pediatrician as a recurring guest. His name was Dr. Landon Smith and I'll always remember him saying, "If the mother says the child is sick, listen to her, no matter if you don't see anything". He'd say the mother spends every day with the child and knows better than anyone, when something's wrong. I'm a retired RN, witnessing other nurses ignoring family members, with me intervening and even having to call a 'Code'. I will never forget his words.

[@Chahlie]

I took my dog to the vets, who I trusted, saying he didn't seem right. They couldn't find anything. Three weeks later he collapsed, the xrays showed his insides black with cancer. It would not have changed anything but people often just know.

[@lindamecum1627]

I remember that doctor as a guest on the Late Show. He was great.

[@FreeRadicals305]

@@lindamecum1627 We're dating ourselves, Linda : )

[@burtknighten4438]

What makes a great Doctor is a doctor that doesn't rely on hisself and ruled by his/her own EGO

[@elenalatici9568]

I just watched a re-run of one his episodes. Johnny Carson did a great favor for the public having Dr. Landon Smith as a guest.

[@doodleacademy]

Thank you Alice & Jake Tapper for sharing this important story. Misdiagnosis happened to my daughter as well, resulting in a life-threatening infection. As a first-time parent, I trusted the doctors to give proper diagnoses and treatment, but I now know that doctors can make mistakes and don't always listen to parents. So glad to hear that Alice has recovered and is doing well 💛

[@liveandletdie7187]

I have learned over the years not to trust any medical Proffesionals...

[@SiriusGoddess555]

This hospital was grossly negligent. All they had to do was to do one or more simple diagnostic procedures to fine out and they refused to do so,

[@sallylambert7552]

Scary...happened to a friend who had appendicitis Also my niece had a heart attack at 35. It took them a long time getting blood test that showed a heart attack. She said she felt life leaving her body and finally they came rushing in with treatment. Because of her age they ignored her telling them her symptoms. Glad your daughter is ok.

[@automnejoy5308]

This really angers me. I'm not a healthcare professional and even I have been highly aware of this issue of young women not being taken seriously when it comes to heart attacks. You'd think they would know better by now.

[@stephmgreen]

I sincerely appreciate this story because I personally have been through this exact scenario at least 10 times in my own life. What I find so fascinating is this story is the reason I’m so avidly for the nursing staff getting fired for stigmatizing patients and their families advocating for themselves or behaving in a way that isn’t necessarily “polite” in a hospital setting on tiktok or social media in general. This is a traumatic event for people and this story shows exactly how much it takes in order to attain proper health care in a hospital setting. It’s upsetting but it’s reality. So, no, you shouldn’t mock your patients for being aggressive with their care because often times, there’s a reason for it.

[@Lola-mt1ne]

As a former ED RN in a large hospital, I can identify with so many aspects of this story. If most people could follow health care workers and witness the communication that goes on, it would open people's eyes to the reality of health care. Maybe stories like this will cause people to change, including medical facilities and the work-ethic it produces. It's a large issue.

[@KSMaxiefan01]

I just finished my ED clinical rotation and I still don’t understand how appendicitis could be miss. Not because I believe healthcare providers are infallible but because it’s one of the most common diagnoses in ER. I will say I AGREE with everything you said. The ER I was at was a teaching hospital so most providers I came in contact with were knowledgeable but being that the ER was the only one in the county, so too many patients, understaffing and overworked providers made for a messy situation.

[@bentleybrewster3374]

This happened to my brother when he was 8 years old. Because he's deaf/mute he couldn't really verbalize what was going on. My mom stayed home from work with him. When I got home from school he was literally in a fetal position crying in pain. I rushed outside and told my mom something was wrong. She told me to go get my dad while she went to get him ready to go to the doctor. They thought it was gastroenteritis and sent him home but he got even worse you couldn't even touch his stomach. My mother decided to rush him to KPH (Kingston Public Hospital/Jamaica) where they IMMEDIATELY took him into surgery his appendix had perforated. He spent 6 weeks in the hospital because the large incision developed an infection. Thank God, that was 50 years ago and he's still with us!

[@mimsyborogove3906]

Thank you, Jake, for relating this horrible personal experience. It will absolutely save lives, and is greatly appreciated. I''m glad your beautiful daughter is fully recovered and is now feeling well and healthy. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, or whatever holiday you may celebrate.

[@jimcarrington6744]

She would be dead, if not for the privilege of being a famous journalist. The homeless are treated much worse than the general public.

[@dawnbengtsson3418]

I lost my best friend in high school to the same misdiagnosis. He went to the local hospital 3 times in 2 days, but was sent home. Where he died. It was awful.

[@CNN_News_Today]

Thanks. contact us for your advert placement at our handle 🔝🔝🔝 via telegram....................

[@annconforti9294]

I am so sorry. But it's not surprising to those of us who have been gaslighted by the medical community when we are just trying to get answers to health questions. You loose trust in the Healthcare community.

[@youlandacollick4652]

I’m SO HAPPY that you were ABLE TO ADVOCATE for you daughter! My daughter is now 33 years old. When she 12 years old. I took her Nationwide Children’s Hospital here in Columbus, Ohio 4 times in a 7 day spam. The doctor that saw her on visits 1,2, & 4 he saw me during a shift change. He said you’re back again. I said to him this is our 4th visit I 7 days. He replied I see. I said to him. You may think what I’m about to say is CRAZY!! I said “I’M NOT TAKING HER HOME”!!! He ordered a CT scan she was SO dehydrated from not being able to keep anything down. She was admitted the very next day they ordered an ultrasound. The appendix is behind the right ovary. She had “NINE STONES” trapped in her Gallbladder and her appendix were close to RUPTURING!! The CT didn’t pick up, she had emergency surgery the very day they gave the diagnostic. I was very you mom at the time. I was watching Oprah Winfrey one and she was talking about advocating for our children and elderly parents. Saved my baby girls life. There’s NOTHING WRONG with be Persistent when it comes to our health!! Doctors are human and they do mistakes. I remember that SURGEON SAYING TO ME, ALWAYS BE PERSISTENT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CHILDRENS HEALTH!! And there is nothing wrong with more than one OPINION!! I’m PRAYING that ALICE continue to be healthy 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@robinkozelka]

My friend also got sent home with an appendicitis. Thankfully she answered the door when I stopped by to say hi. Based on her pain and symptoms I thought that she might have an appendicitis. Had I not had one in college, I wouldn’t have recognized the symptoms. The doctor said that if it were an appendicitis she would be throwing up. I told her that I never threw up. It took me a while to talk her into going to the ER. She ended up needed to being in the hospital for 2 months and almost died.

[@graceantonia]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm glad Alice is better. Something similar happened to us with juvenile arthritis. My youngest daughter almost lost all body mobility. My daughter kept complaining about her body hurting. We kept going to the doctors, and they kept saying it was growing pains. Almost two years ago, she started to lose motion on her joints. By this time, I had to carry her everywhere. Finally, a doctor figured out what was wrong with her. Now, she is doing much better, but it was extremely hard not knowing what was wrong. More videos like this should be shared so parents can push when they feel something is wrong. Thank you 😊

[@anniemills2522]

Same thing happened to me. I had bad stomach illness starting Christmas evening, 2011. It became so bad within the next 24 hours that we went to the emergency room. They did tests and thought it was colitis or pancreatitis. We spent the night at a nearby hotel, and went back the next morning, as I was so ill, and they didn't have an answer. They told me to watch what I ate. I was in so so much pain. My symptoms didn't fit neatly into their columns so there were no conclusions and I had to try to deal with it. I couldn't eat anything without getting ill. The following month I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to have a mastectomy, but before they did the surgery, they wanted to fix what looked like a tumor above my uterous. This was now May 2012, and I had lost a LOT of weight. They went in to do the uterous surgery and found out that rather than a tumor... my appendix had burst the last christmas and my colon had wrapped around my appendix, they said "like a hot dog around a bun" and kept the poisons from killing me. They were amazed. The MD's removed my appendix, repaired my colon, and the next day, removed my cancerous breast. I am lucky to be alive. This was in 2012. Thank you for sharing your story Alice and Jake.

[@helenvalentine8372]

What a complete nightmare you lived through. So glad you were finally able to live life again. Thanks for sharing your story as it really touched me. God bless you and happy holidays from a retired R.N.

[@angelinasouren]

Isn't it amazing, the things the human body sometimes does to protect itself? I am sorry you had to go through all that but I am so pleased you came out on the other side alive and kicking.🫂

[@joannefitzpatrick1902]

As a registered nurse I have seen this, and it is extremely frustrating. I have also seen many people who end up dying because they are afraid to go to the hospital because of cost and not having insurance. I used to work with the CNA who had the same name as me, and she had a urinary tract infection which she worked through because she had children that she had to support with her low income and she couldn't miss work. When her shift was over she finally took herself to the ER, but she had waited so long she went into kidney failure and died.

[@sunshine9993]

So sad! I had kidney infections due to urinary track infection. Is not joke, you could die from them.

[@michaeld.williamsiii9026]

This is so devastatingly heartbreaking…💔😢💔 Our country’s healthcare system is so damn terrible, many have suffered and still are because of this.😔

[@jasonluis8895]

@@michaeld.williamsiii9026 you’ve never gone to hospital overseas I see.

[@joannefitzpatrick1902]

@@jasonluis8895 I once got to meet the only doctor in the country of Mali. I can't imagine having that many patients, I used to panic when I was a registered nurse just having 92

[@fredanokye733]

@@joannefitzpatrick1902 stop telling a stupid lie. Who told you the whole country of Mali has only one doctor. Nonsense.

[@justiceministry3789]

I'm so sorry this happened to your family! I hope CNN covers more families who feel their medical conditions are dismissed by the medical system.

[@debrawhite250]

I'm so glad you are OK!! I had the same experience. My stomach hurt, I went to the hospital, I vomited in the waiting room. When I got a room and did the "jump" test, it didn't hurt. I didn't have lower right pain. After hours of pain my doctor did order a scan and found my appendix was perforated. I got lucky. I'm so happy you are sharing your story!!

[@bettypelton7711]

Always push the doctors to get answers. I have a friend in the hospital right now who was diagnosed with stomach and liver cancer. She has been suffering with this for months. They were going to send her home again but one of the doctors stood up for her and said she is not leaving until we find out what is going on. They finally did a CT scan on her and found the tumor and the lesions on her liver. I am grateful for the doctor who stood up for her. But I’m also angry because they could have found it sooner if they would have done the CT scan sooner. It will be a miracle if she survives 😢. I’m asking her prayers and a miracle right now. Her name is Connie.

[@zenettehunter7598]

❤🙏🙏🙏

[@flowergirlpower1991]

She should juice five pounds of carrot juice each day. Get off of all processed foods, sugar , dairy. She should be on an all plant based diet . Check out Chris best cancer on you tube or just check out carrot juice. Also PCRM and Eric Adam story.

[@unicornhustlemagic]

❤😢

[@genespell4340]

@@flowergirlpower1991 that nauseous suggestion makes death sound like a better alternative.

[@melissamanning4979]

I was misdiagnosed at the ER when I was 18. 2 days later after going to another hospital and seeing a specialist, I was in major surgery having 2 liters of toxic fluid drained from complex ovarian cysts and was lucky enough to have them sewn back together by a skilled surgeon. No one wanted to give me a sonogram bc I was a teenager and they didn’t think anything serious could be wrong with me. I have learned to advocate for myself and change doctors if I don’t feel right. 8 years ago after being diagnosed w/hypothyroidism I had gotten that medicine on track but still feeling terrible. I was told I should feel fine in a condescending tone and immediately changed endocrinologists where I found out that I had a severe vitamin D deficiency of a level 6 and was put on prescription level vitamin d of 150,000 iu’s a week for 6 weeks. Please listen to your bodies and don’t be afraid to challenge a doctor if you know something doesn’t feel right.

[@jennywarren]

Sometimes you will need an adjustment to your dosage of levothyroxine as well, even if your bloodwork doesn't reflect that.

[@meeraesq]

Almost the same thing happened to our friend's kid. The irony is the mother was a gastroenterologist. The data such as the one shared in the news helps in treating patients in the future.

[@jydelca7297]

Something similar happened to my daughter when she was 9. Her pediatrician thought she had step throat and an infection. She kept declining over the weekend, vomiting and losing weight, basically wasting away within a couple of days. I finally got so scared while waiting for them to call in a prescription that I decided to take her to the ER. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, her oxygen level was so low, she went into ketoacidosis. 10:03 She spent a week in ICU. The doctors told me that if I had waited longer she would’ve gone into a diabetic comma. Thank God I rushed her to the hospital. I’m glad the Tapper family is shedding light on this issue. God bless them. 🙏🏽

[@angelinasouren]

🫂

[@TXEROXT]

My heart goes out to the Tapper Family! As an Army veteran though, I can honestly say it's easily a thousand times worse at VA hospitals and the doctors are never held accountable.

[@Nafissall7]

“Not to be polite”is definitely what i learnt not just as parent but as a ER patient myself. I learnt not to trust my kids lives 100% into doctors hands. You have to always challenge what they are telling you and empower yourself with medical knowledge. My son had spent a whole week at the a PICU and would probably have died if i wasn’t present the whole time advocating for his life, doing researches, asking for advise, and asked to be informed of every little treatment they were administering. Insisting that some labs were done on him. He finally is out of the woods but it was a struggle! I only left my son’s room when my husband was in to take over for a shower or food. And just one time i went to get food probably spent about 30 mins out trying to find an eatery in that maze. Came back to my husband who told me the doctor just left he said this and that. He never challenges doctors. I also trusted him and my son almost died in a matter of minutes. After they gave him their report they asked him if he had a question he replied no but my wife will definitely have some when she comes back. The doctor left and took it as an acknowledgement and proceeded into moving my son to a regular pediatric unit. By the time i came back they had already started transferring him. I was happy but didn’t get a chance to think or speak and i had spent the whole night with my 3 months old baby and i knew if was not better as they stated and that he needed the machine support he was on at the PICU. After few hours he started to get worse and i had to fight for them to do something. They knew i wasn’t stupid as i appeared and it would cost them a lot if anything happened to my son so they finally took actions.

[@SerenityPeaceTree]

Dear one... I know your story on multiple levels.... I always do my research - yes I actually read research papers, too. And sometimes know a little more than they do so I appear threatening. But I stick to it and continue to ask questions and tell them what I think. (Too many times "I told you so" runs through my head, but I don't say that).

[@andigordon8397]

That's why we gotta pray that docs / nurse make the Right decisions... human factor/ human error - glad your son is okay...

[@pingyoung77]

Yessss.... you are totalllly right !!! We can't be too polite.. we have to get our own knowledge about our health condition so we can challenge them. We have to monitor all the medicines and treatment they gave to us. Doctors can make mistakes too.. Many doctors are too scared or too careful or too busy i dunno but they never listen what i said. I experienced myself when i had to go er.

[@rosah.901]

So glad she’s doing well. Sending prayers for continued good health

[@mariahunter9882]

So sorry for what happened to this lovely child but grateful that she is okay again. Wishing a long and beautiful life to this darling child.

[@ColorsofHopeCraftsASMR]

This is horrifying, and I’m glad she recovered. I have Hydrocephalus, and I was misdiagnosed with a shunt malfunction in high school. They replaced the shunt that wasn’t broken (although the catheter was clogged), and I spent over three years (ages 15-18) with the shunt over-draining fluid. I had headaches and dizziness daily, and every doctor I saw except my pediatric neurosurgeon said it was shunt related. My neurosurgeon said everything looked fine and my ventricles were smaller than normal. Finally when I was in college, a new neurosurgeon looked at my scans after going to the ER for throwing up blood, and said he was 90% sure I had Low-Pressure Syndrome (LPS), and he couldn’t believe my pediatric neurosurgeon never mentioned it. We went back to my pediatric neurosurgeon and asked her about it, and she said she didn’t believe in LPS. Come to find out, she knew someone who did, and HE diagnosed me with it! At our first appointment, he came in and immediately asked me what I thought was wrong with me. I was shocked because no one (who could do anything) cared what I thought for the last 3 1/2 years, and here was a doctor asking me for my opinion! Anyway, I told him I thought I had LPS. And he said “I agree. Now what are we going to do about it?”

[@Coffeecup.0110]

I had a nurse ask me once, “How do you know?” I said, “I’m the mom!” Parents need to be listened to. We know our kids.

[@tiffl3380]

I had a similar experience when I was 19 weeks pregnant. The ER doctor told me I had gas. I knew better after 20 hours of pain and pushed hard for an ultrasound and was diagnosed with appendicitis. Scary to know what would have happened if I didn’t get it diagnosed at that time.

[@GwenMotoGirl]

I’m so sorry that this happened to your daughter. I commend you, your wife, and your daughter for turning this terrible situation into a message to benefit others. I’m glad that your daughter is doing well now.

[@FollowTheJohn]

This is scary. My oldest daughter was 18 months old and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis. What she had was Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. She had renal failure and was on peritoneal dialysis for 3 weeks. Her kidneys did start functioning and she made a full recovery. ALWAYS question doctors if you have a gut feeling that something is not right.

[@bcm6859]

HUS is a secondary complication of gastroenteritis, so the initial diagnosis was correct.

[@FollowTheJohn]

@@bcm6859 She was in the ED three times! Her kidneys failed before the 3rd visit! We kept insisting that something was not right and they needed to do more tests!

[@bcm6859]

@@FollowTheJohn that’s super scary and it’s a blessing she has made a full recovery. I’m sorry your family went through that. But, she had HUS secondary to gastroenteritis, I’m just saying based on what you describe the initial diagnosis was correct. A second or 3rd visit to the ED should, in most cases, warrant additional testing. I say most case because we have people in this country that visit multiple ED a day everyday. Like 15-20 ED visits a week, every week.

[@susancoddington6393]

Thank you Jake for sharing this very personal story,I’m so happy your daughter is well today,my father almost died from a ruptured appendix back in the early 30’s and remembered the horrific pain and how sick he was until the day he died

[@equalityforall8418]

How horrible!! I am so glad Alice has recovered. Thank you for sharing this Mr. and Mrs. Tapper.

[@gordsimpson8916]

Wow, good for her in sharing! My grandfather had appendicitis when he was 14 and wasn't expected to survive. He was left scared for life. Ultimately, it likey saved him. When he was called for WWII, they took one look at his scares and sent him home. His family even burned his clothes, thinking he wasn't going to make it. He was proud of it and the power it gave him!

[@veraspresser5503]

I had pain in the left side and my back. I had it for months actually. It can be acute appendicitis and there's chronic. When they opened me up, they couldn't find it. They had cut me in 4 places, in order to find it. God bless his daughter that she is healthy now.

[@willajohnson8577]

You survived thank goodness

[@mohammedgeli6722]

Did you survive?

[@veraspresser5503]

@@mohammedgeli6722 LOL 😆 😂 🤣

[@mohammedgeli6722]

@@veraspresser5503 in all seriousness , you are very lucky to be alive and that is a good thing! No harm intended in the joke of course

[@veraspresser5503]

@@mohammedgeli6722 ❤️

[@jennifera4350]

I have a friend who went into the emergency room with appendicitis and was sent home. His appendix also ruptured. Leading to months of expensive, emergency care. Fortunately he also didn't die. Thanks for sharing this story Jake. Hope it helps others in similar situations. We all need to be informed and proactive about health care for our families and ourselves.

[@sallygardner3714]

So very sorry this happened to you and your daughter. My father was my doctor when I was 14 and became ill. He was annoyed and thought that I was malingering. Despite the vomiting and pain. I was sent back to school when I vomited again and was sent home to my mother who took me to a family friend who was a surgeon. He quickly made the diagnosis at 2 pm and by 4 pm I was in surgery! Very close to a perforated appendix!

[@photonboy999]

*same thing happened to my sister...* She got told she had a stomach flu or something (can't remember now). Her appendix ruptured. The Doctor came out half way through the surgery and said she had a 50/50 chance of living.

[@jdhorton1432]

I'm so sorry that happened. As a healthcare professional, it hurts to know there was this misdiagnosis & no one would listen to you, your requests. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[@Cwgrlup]

This happens every day in healthcare and as a health professional you and I both know this.

[@KSMaxiefan01]

@@Cwgrlup As a healthcare professional when I saw the title of the video I was not surprised. What I was surprised about having just finished my ER rotation was that it was appendicitis that was missed. I saw many cases none of which had the classic presentation that I would think any ER provider going in would always have appendicitis in their head for anyone with abdominal pain

[@Ilovemesomemj1]

I'm glad that you got to the bottom of it. Like you said, you're a journalist and could get that access where others can't. I'm glad that your daughter is better now. Drs. really need to listen to the parents more often

[@beatricerigaud8942]

I’ve had to stop being polite with doctors all the many years I took care of my mom. I stood up for her and myself and was right most of the time! Thank you for sharing and I am so sorry you all went through so much pain!

[@debbiedean3165]

I’m so sorry to hear what Alice and your family went through. She’s brave and kind to share her experience to help others.

[@kaythegardener]

As a sophomore in high school, I notified my mother that I had not been feeling well for the past 2 weeks (nausea, etc). FORTUNATELY, as an elementary school nurse, she took me to the hospital in the middle of the morning & insisted that I be checked by the doctor, not the nurse. It was NOT due to menstrual difficulties. As the doctor was probing, I said, "How is the McBurney point in my abdomen?" I had remembered reading about appendicitis in my mother's nursing magazine about that point. So they took me into surgery right away & put me on the women's ward post-op!!

[@susanlyn2]

This exact same thing happened to me. I'm so happy she is okay.

[@angelinasouren]

I'm happy you are okay. (I assume you are.) 🫂

[@rbk7009]

Thank you so much for bringing light to this topic. I have been an RN for over 40 years, and I had a personal experience several years ago when I was in the hospital for elective surgery. I complained that I could not expand my lungs and was faint upon exertion 10 hours after surgery. I told this to every nurse who walked into my room, the surgeon, and the hospitalists. Finally, one physician contacted my personal physician, whom I had been seeing for over 17 years. She rushed to the hospital, took one look at me (I was apparently white as a ghost), and demanded a CAT scan. I was bleeding internally, my blood pressure bottomed out at 70/40 and my oxygen level was way below normal. I had lost 2 liters of blood! I could have died. WHY WOULDN'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME? This is my biggest complaint. They all knew I was an RN (and a member of the Board of Trustees), but nothing happened until my personal (concierge) doctor intervened. I have had a multitude of follow-up meetings with the President, Chief Nursing, and Medical Officer. Have they listened to me? I don't know. Lesson learned: you have to demand to be heard, and you have to be your own advocate. It has been almost 3 years, and I am still traumatized by this experience. PS: the surgeon never apologized.

[@hammersampson]

One of the most scariest thing that can happen to any parent. Glad to hear that she has recovered.

[@DesertZen2015]

So glad she survived to tell her story! The story is likely to save someone's life!!! Blessings to you all!!!

[@bigh7972]

Glad Alice and family pulled through this difficult chapter in her life. Sharing this experience will undoubtedly save many lives in the future. Thank you.

[@shelleywright749]

I'm very glad Alice recovered. It must have been extremely frightening for her and family. It was not my appendix, but I had a misdiagnosis over 30 years ago for another problem. Finally a specialist took some tests and then rushed me to surgery. He said another day or 2 and there would have been renal failure. The orginal MD I saw insisted I was faking the pain.

[@wonder1481]

A friend of mine lost her son this way ,she took him in to Dr and he said not his appendix and it was ! So sad

[@margaretkremer8546]

That happened to me when I was 14, too. My appendix burst and was misdiagnosed several times and I nearly died. It wasn’t until a really kind and amazing doctor from India treated me and asked me what I thought it was. I told him that it’s my appendix. He said, “I believe you.” He did surgery then. It was my appendix and gangrene had set in. It took several months for me to recover.

[@jmora61]

This!!! My daughter went through this. They finally did the appendectomy. She had turned green. They waited too long. She ended up with sepsis and the doctor told me to have my daughter call because she was 18 years old. I took her to a different hospital and she spent 10 days with drains. Her pain was unbearable. I’m angry all over again seeing this story!

[@graysonjames593]

Ohh i got to send you a request on here after noticing your profile on my facebook page..and the main reason was that i found you really nice and charming so i hope you dont mind having me as friend??

[@1ACL]

Joe, wtf?

[@graysonjames593]

@@1ACL hello Thanks for accepting me as a friend dear i really appreciate and i will love to get to know a lot more about you.

[@graysonjames593]

@@1ACL I would prefer if we will chat on Google chat so we can communicate easily

[@1ACL]

@@graysonjames593 I have not accepetd you as a "friend". This is KZbin, not Facebook. And anywya, I do not know you.

[@bv1197]

So happy she’s doing better and I appreciate her helping the next person who goes through this!