When Alyssa Bogert’s daughter, Cora, began experiencing fever and abdominal pain in early 2025, she initially assumed it was a common childhood illness. Although there was a closer emergency room to their home in Berks County, Alyssa chose to bring her to the Isaacman Family St. Luke’s Children’s ER in Bethlehem—a decision that would prove lifesaving. At the time, Cora was 2 years old.
Eric Eustice, DO, an emergency room specialist, was on duty at the Isaacman Family St. Luke's Children's ER, which is in the St. Luke's Children's Hospital. From the outset, Alyssa felt their concerns were taken seriously. Dr. Eustice listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and chose to pursue additional testing to rule out more serious conditions, she says. That decision led to a CT scan, which revealed cancer – stage 4 neuroblastoma. “We were expecting him to come in and say that her appendix had to come out, but he instead said what no parent wants to hear,” Alyssa recalls. “It’s cancer.”
In that moment, everything changed. Cora was quickly transferred for specialized care, and now at 3 years old, Cora is doing well thanks to her treatment. Her family remains hopeful for the future.
Looking back, Alyssa firmly believes that the attentiveness and persistence of the Isaacman Family St. Luke's Children's ER team saved her daughter’s life. She credits the Isaacman Family St. Luke's Children's ER not only for its clinical expertise, but also for the staff’s compassion and willingness to listen—qualities that made all the difference during an uncertain and frightening time. “When Dr. Eustice told us what the CT scan showed, he delivered the news so sensitively and caringly. It was like he wasn’t a doctor at that moment but just a person who was here to help us,” she says.
Alyssa remains deeply grateful for the care her daughter received and emphasizes the importance of trusting parental instincts. She also highlights the value of having access to such high-quality pediatric emergency care, even if it means going a little farther from home.
The experience left a lasting impression on the Bogert family. Without the expert care that the Isaacman Family St. Luke's Children's ER provided Cora, Alyssa says, “we still might not have her.”
