Alice Tapper's Harrowing Near-Death Experience with Appendicitis

A Personal Story of Survival and the Dangers of Misdiagnosis

By Alice Tapper

In the realm of medical emergencies, appendicitis stands as a treacherous foe, often lurking in the shadows until its grip tightens, threatening devastating consequences. For Alice Tapper, the 15-year-old daughter of CNN anchor Jake Tapper, this insidious ailment nearly proved fatal. In a compelling and heart-wrenching piece for CNN, Alice recounts the harrowing ordeal she endured, a tale that serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of timely and accurate diagnosis.

As a young girl brimming with vitality and promise, Alice could never have imagined that a routine trip to the doctor's office would lead her down such a perilous path. However, fate had a cruel twist in store for her, as an erroneous diagnosis of gastroenteritis sent her home with medication that proved ineffective against the true torment that lay concealed within her body.

As the hours turned into days, Alice's condition deteriorated rapidly, leaving her writhing in agony and desperate for relief. Her parents, sensing that something was amiss, rushed her back to the hospital, where a battery of tests finally revealed the devastating truth: appendicitis. The inflammation had spread, reaching a critical stage that threatened to rupture and unleash a torrent of infection throughout her body.