Nurse noticed pinprick bruises on her daughter’s leg when X‑ray couldn’t explain the unbearable pain — then came a heartbreaking diagnosis

A nurse’s sharp eye helped uncover the reason behind a young child’s unexplained pain after routine scans showed nothing unusual. The situation became serious when the four-year-old girl complained of severe foot pain. Small pinprick bruises on her leg raised further concern when doctors looked closer. The child, Alice, was later diagnosed with leukemia, a finding that reshaped everything for her family. Her mother, Elle Rugari, later shared the experience on TikTok under the handle @elle94x, as reported by Newsweek on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The TikTok post was shared on December 3, 2025, and drew widespread attention and support online.

Elle from South Australia said the first signs appeared on the night of September 25, 2025. After a normal day at childcare, Alice mentioned pain in her foot after her bath. Elle and her partner, Cody, were not immediately alarmed and put her to bed. That night, however, Alice woke up screaming in pain. “I gave her Panadol and a wheat bag, and she went back to sleep,” Elle told the outlet. Over the next few days, the pain kept returning. Alice began limping and crying more often, prompting her parents to plan a doctor’s visit.

Before the scheduled appointment, Alice’s condition worsened. On September 30, 2025, she became unusually distressed and asked for medicine and a doctor visit. “She doesn’t like taking medicine or seeing doctors, so I knew it was something serious,” Elle said. At the emergency department, an X-ray showed no injury. A nurse then noticed pinprick bruises along Alice’s legs, and blood samples were taken for testing. Elle also pointed out swollen lumps on her daughter’s neck. “They came back ‘a bit spicy’—the doctor’s words,” she recalled. When Elle asked directly if leukemia was suspected, the doctor confirmed that concern.

The diagnosis was confirmed the following day. Already parents to Layla, 15, and Leo, 6, Elle and Cody were heartbroken but remained focused on helping Alice through the fight ahead. “There are still days where it feels so, so overwhelming, but she’s such a little champion,” Elle said. Three months into a three-year treatment plan, Alice is following a high-risk program that requires more intensive therapy. Despite this, she sings Taylor Swift songs daily and proudly talks about her illness. “She lets everyone around her know that she has leukemia and that she’s going to get rid of it. She’s honestly the most amazing child,” Elle shared. The post has gained over 1.3 million views since being shared online, with many users offering encouragement and sharing similar stories. 

@fitnessbeastie recounted, "My daughter was changing color and having fevers [sic] and complaining of leg pain and arm pain, and hospitals all kept saying it was her making it up. I didn’t give up, and it was leukemia." @yasmin.naz10 exclaimed, "She’s so strong, she’s got this!" @michellee_38 commented, "I thought my son had strep throat because he is nonverbal with autism. We got admitted that night for leukemia." @mbaswell wrote, "This has me actually wrecked. Praying for you and your sweet baby." 

For more updates on Alice's journey, follow @elle94x on TikTok. 

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