In this intense two-part episode of The Medical Detectives, what began as a routine backpacking trip among Arkansas oaks quickly spiraled into a baffling medical mystery. A misdiagnoses of UTI, strep and “pink eye,” a terrifying drop into sudden blindness, and delirium, and a desperate race against time in under-equipped rural hospitals. Kara’s raw, first-person account of shock, ICU delirium and the gut-wrenching fear of not being believed by doctors exposes the darkest extremes of the patient experience, and, miraculously, the resilience that brought her back from the edge of death.

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

This episode is the finale of our very first two-part case. Kerry was a fearless hockey player who felt invincible when her cough started, but what began as a minor inconvenience spiraled into a terminal diagnosis. Tune in, stay hopeful, and get ready to come back next week for part two—you won’t believe where this rabbit hole goes.

Interested in becoming an organ donor? Click here!

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

This episode lays the groundwork for our very first two-part case. Kerry was a fearless hockey player who felt invincible when her cough started, but what began as a minor inconvenience spiraled into a terminal diagnosis. Tune in, stay hopeful, and get ready to come back next week for part two—you won’t believe where this rabbit hole goes.

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

Robin always knew her mom as a vibrant, fiercely independent nurse who seemed invincible, until one spring day when a sudden bout of dizziness and confusion sent her spiraling into a whirlwind of tests, missteps, and sleepless nights. In this episode, Robin shares the harrowing two-week odyssey of watching her once-formidable mother slip from lucid conversations to moments of disorientation so profound that she needed help merely taking a step. As the days peel away her mom’s clarity, Robin grapples with gut instincts, half-formed hypotheses, and the weight of medical bureaucracy, taking us inside the frantic race to find answers. But Robin’s journey isn’t just about uncovering the mystery of her mother’s rapid decline; it’s a lesson in love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between a daughter and her mom, even when nothing makes sense.

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

After a scheduled C-section, Krystina experienced escalating postoperative complications that ranged from losing her taste to fever and extreme pain. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to an emergency transfer, an induced coma, and a fight for her life. Krystina only had a 10% chance of survival, but as she was being put into an induced coma her husband begged her to fight for him and their babies, and that's exactly what she did. Tune into this episode to hear about Krystina's incredible fight to stay alive.

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

This week on The Medical Detectives, we share Hailey’s decades-long ordeal with sudden, terrifying “stuck throat” episodes—from rural Yukon ERs and improvised home remedies, to the social anxiety of hiding her symptoms, until a late-night trip, a can of Coca-Cola, and a specialist referral finally pointed her to the right diagnosis. Along the way, we explore the highs and lows of rural medicine, the power of having a name for your condition, and how keeping it all inside can become a dangerous “new normal.” If you’ve ever felt dismissed, misunderstood, or too embarrassed to speak up, this is a must-hear reminder that finding your voice can unlock real answers.

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

Trigger Warning: Discussion of infant medical crisis and loss.

When baby Ivy couldn't breath doctors said it was normal, but Kalla’s instincts told her something was terribly wrong. Dismissed repeatedly, she fought through fear and isolation to uncover a rare genetic disorder that explained Ivy’s muscle spasms and respiratory failure. Discover how parental persistence and selflessness saved her daughter’s life.

Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

This week Anna and Erin welcome Tracy, whose years long struggle with bone-deep exhaustion, persistent sore throats and sudden blood blisters led her on a winding odyssey from GPs to specialists, with inconclusive tests and tough treatments at every turn. In our “Diseases That Need a Rebrand” series, we’re asking you to help us rename this mysterious, tongue-twisting condition—email your rebrand ideas (and your own medical mysteries) to stories@medicaldetectivespodcast.com, and drop us a rating and review, and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.

***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content.

All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***