# Taking my appendix for granted | Paulina Alamillo Morayta | TEDxLas Hayas College Youth Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhztCcKXcmY Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/MhztCcKXcmY Generated: 2026-03-10T16:03:06.963+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The speaker recounts her personal, terrifying experience of being rushed to the hospital for suspected appendicitis, detailing the subsequent realization that she took basic privileges, like access to food and medical care, for granted, which shifted her perspective on gratitude. **Key Points:** - The speaker suffered intense abdominal pain, leading to a suspected diagnosis of appendicitis around September 15th. - She was initially told she would have to wait four hours to be admitted to the surgical room at the hospital. - The speaker recounts how her mother had to bring her food and how she didn't want to eat, contrasting this with the realization that others lack basic food necessities. - A key turning point was realizing that the hospital staff did not have the necessary supplies (like an ultrasound machine) readily available for that specific patient, which was later rectified. - The speaker mentions that the patient whose condition was worse than hers received positive feedback from the doctor, which shifted her perspective from complaining to gratitude. - The central theme is recognizing that everyday privileges, such as easily accessible food, water, and immediate medical attention, are often taken for granted. - The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to re-evaluate what they complain about, suggesting that many perceived problems are actually privileges. ![Screenshot at 00:10: The speaker, Paulina Alamillo Morayta, stands center stage in front of the large TEDx letters, beginning her personal story about realizing the privileges she often overlooked.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MhztCcKXcmY/00-00-10.jpg) **Context:** This TEDx talk, delivered by Paulina Alamillo Morayta at TEDxLas Hayas College Youth, is a personal narrative focused on a health scare—suspected appendicitis—that served as a profound lesson in gratitude. The speaker narrates the anxiety and discomfort of the experience, contrasting her situation with the realities faced by others who lack basic necessities like consistent food or immediate access to advanced medical equipment, ultimately leading to a shift in her perspective on daily life. ## Detailed Analysis The speaker begins by stating that many things, like being present or having access to food and water, are taken for granted, even if we don't consciously acknowledge it. She recounts a personal story from about six months prior when she experienced what felt like a severe stomach bug, which turned out to be appendicitis, causing her to throw up and feel extremely cold. She had to wait four hours to be admitted to surgery at the hospital, and she was upset that they could not admit her immediately. She notes that the hospital staff, while generally good, lacked an ultrasound machine for that specific patient, which caused delays. The speaker contrasts her situation with another patient whose condition was worse but received positive feedback from the doctor, which forced the speaker to stop complaining about her own discomfort. She realized that she was lucky to have access to food, water, and medical care, unlike others who struggle for these basic necessities. She explicitly states that even though the hospital experience was awful, it changed her perspective, making her realize that having food, water, and the ability to seek medical attention, even if inconvenient, is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. ### Introduction to Gratitude - We take so many things for granted, like being here, eating, walking, or having the stuff we have, even the big achievements. - The speaker mentions the song 'Let Her Go' as being irrelevant to her point about love, focusing instead on daily taken-for-granted acts. ### The Appendicitis Scare - Six months prior, the speaker had appendicitis, which caused her to vomit and feel cold; she was told she had to wait four hours to enter surgery. - The hospital they went to (a private clinic) did not have an ultrasound machine, requiring them to wait or go elsewhere, like the public hospital, which she notes was expensive. ### Shift in Perspective - The speaker complained about the wait and the lack of food, but then realized a neighboring patient had a far worse situation (a dislocated knee and no food provided by the family). - This realization shifted her perspective from complaining to understanding that her situation, despite being unpleasant, was still a privilege. ### Conclusion on Privilege - Everything is a privilege that can be lost in the blink of an eye; we must stop taking basic things—food, water, medical care—for granted because others do not have them. - The speaker ends by thanking the audience and receiving applause. ![Screenshot at 00:09: The speaker begins her talk on stage with the large orange TEDx letters behind her, setting the scene for her personal story.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MhztCcKXcmY/00-00-09.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:25: The speaker emphasizes her point about taking things for granted, using expansive hand gestures to illustrate the scope of unappreciated privileges.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MhztCcKXcmY/00-00-25.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:11: The speaker recounts the details of her appendicitis diagnosis and the subsequent challenges she faced at the hospital.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MhztCcKXcmY/00-01-11.jpg) ![Screenshot at 08:57: The speaker concludes her narrative by urging the audience to stop taking things for granted, as everything can be lost quickly.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MhztCcKXcmY/00-08-57.jpg)