02/25/2026
When a sharp stomach pain stopped 12-year-old Kaylee in her tracks, her mother, Carissa, knew something wasn't right.
Carissa brought Kaylee to the Emergency Department at Anderson County Hospital thinking the pain in her daughter’s side was something minor. However, it turned out to be serious.
"The staff did blood work and a CT scan," Carissa says. "We were told it was her appendix and it would have to be taken out."
When Anissa, the board-certified nurse practitioner on staff in the Emergency Department, found the cause of the problem was appendicitis, she reassured Kaylee everything would be OK.
“Most kids get pretty nervous, so we did a lot of reassuring and education,” Anissa says. “Sometimes kids do better when they know what to expect.”
Anissa worked with Anderson County EMS to quickly transfer Kaylee and her mother to Children’s Mercy Hospital to receive the critical care she needed.
Alex, an advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), operated the ambulance.
“We have a stuffed animal we keep on the truck to give to kids because it can be scary if they’ve never been in an ambulance before,” Alex says.
Kaylee underwent an emergency appendectomy—and thanks to quick care and smooth recovery, she was soon back to her energetic self.
“Kaylee was back to her normal self that weekend,” Carissa says. “I love going to Anderson County. The staff listens to me when I advocate for my child.”
Read Kaylee's full story: https://heyor.ca/C2aWUK
