Girl Power: Use Your Voice in Medical Misdiagnosis with Alice Paul Tapper and Audrey Maged

Innovate and Elevate

A special episode 10 thank you:

Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who work tirelessly to ensure patients receive the quality care they deserve. We recognize that, despite best efforts, healthcare is inherently complex and challenging. Your dedication and commitment are deeply appreciated, even in the face of difficult situations such as misdiagnoses. Your continuous striving to provide the best possible care makes a significant difference in countless lives.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Innovate & Elevate, Sharon Kedar is joined by two remarkable young women, Alice Paul Tapper and Audrey Maged, for an inspiring discussion on the importance of self-advocacy and resilience, particularly in the face of medical misdiagnosis.

Alice, a high school senior and author of two picture books, including her upcoming release "Use Your Voice," shares her harrowing experience of surviving untreated appendicitis that led to a life-threatening sepsis diagnosis. She details her journey from feeling dismissed by healthcare professionals to becoming a fierce advocate for herself and others. Her story is a testament to the critical need for patients, especially young girls, to speak up and advocate for their own health, even when it means challenging authority.

Audrey Maged, Sharon’s daughter and a fourth grade student, was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, more commonly known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a condition that involves increased pressure around the brain, leading to symptoms like severe headaches. Audrey joins the conversation to reflect on the common barriers children face when trying to express their needs in a healthcare setting. Both Alice and Audrey emphasize the importance of teaching young people to use their voices, not just in healthcare but in all areas of life.

Sharon, Alice, and Audrey unpack the societal norms that often discourage girls from being assertive and how these norms can have serious consequences when it comes to healthcare. They also discuss the emotional and psychological impacts of feeling unheard and the role parents and communities play in empowering children to advocate for themselves.

Episode Outline

(01:47) Raise Your Hand: Be Bold, Be Brave

(09:42) Alice’s Misdiagnosis Journey

(18:45) Use Your Voice: You Are Your Best Advocate

Connect with Sharon

• Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon Kedar
• Follow Sharon on Instagram: @sharonkedarcfa
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Additional Resources

• Use Your Voice by Alice Paul Tapper
• Raise Your Hand by Alice Paul Tapper
• Raise Your Hand Girl Scout Patch
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

This podcast is produced by the women at The Wave Editing