Looking for answers
One evening, 5-year-old Auzzie suddenly began experiencing pain when using the bathroom.
For Auzzie’s mom, Desireé, the symptoms were concerning enough that she knew her daughter needed medical attention, but not necessarily an emergency department visit.
Because the issue was particularly sensitive for a young child, she wanted care from a team experienced in treating children and helping them feel comfortable during medical visits.
“I knew I needed to see a pediatric specialist who knows how to make kids feel comfortable,” Auzzie’s mom recalls. “I didn’t want to chance her becoming more afraid in an adult urgent care.”
After checking wait times online, she saw that Rady Children’s Pediatric Urgent Care in Irvine was open and had no wait.
They headed there right away.
A welcoming environment from the start
Walking through the doors, Auzzie’s family immediately noticed that the space was designed with children in mind.
“Walking in, everything was so clean and kid-friendly,” her mom says.
Auzzie’s favorite movie was playing on a television in the waiting area. A staff member at the front desk complimented her outfit, an interaction her mom says quickly put Auzzie at ease.
Before long, they were escorted to an exam room.
Throughout the visit, staff members took time to engage with Auzzie and answer her questions.
“She’s very curious,” her mom says. Staff took time to explain the medical equipment they used and helped her feel comfortable before checking her blood oxygen and blood pressure.
Care designed for kids
One part of the visit required extra patience.
Auzzie needed to provide a urine sample, something her mom anticipated could take a while.
The staff gave the family all the time they needed and remained supportive throughout the process.
When the sample was finally collected, the physician saw them right away.
She engaged Auzzie in conversation while assessing her symptoms, helping create a comfortable environment for the exam and discussion that followed.
“She talked to my daughter for a few minutes, asking her how she was feeling, but also just general life questions to make her feel comfortable off the bat,” her mom says.
The physician then gathered information from Auzzie’s mom and explained the exam process to both of them so everyone understood what to expect.
With her mom by her side, the exam went more smoothly than anticipated.
Afterward, Auzzie received a popsicle and a pair of medical gloves to take home.
For a child who had arrived in pain, those small gestures helped end the visit on a positive note.
Quick answers and a trip home
Within minutes, the family received initial test results along with clear instructions for care and follow-up.
For Auzzie’s mom, having access to pediatric urgent care close to home made all the difference.
“I was very worried about having to go to an emergency department given the nature of the situation, especially one for adults,” she says. “I knew we couldn’t wait it out, but I also didn’t think we were in an emergency.”
Instead, the family was able to receive specialized pediatric care and return home that same evening.
“We were home within less than two hours, just in time for bed.”
Before heading home, they even stopped next door for a special treat.
“The cherry on top was being able to take my daughter nearby for an ice cream treat after our appointment,” her mom says.
Back to being a kid
Following the care team’s recommendations, Auzzie began feeling better within hours.
By the next day, she was back to enjoying her usual activities.
“She was feeling better within a few hours and back to daycare, playing in the garden with lizards, chickens and one very affectionate cat the next day,” her mom says.
“It was a relief to be able to see her discomfort and fear gone so quickly.”
Today, Auzzie continues to enjoy spending time outdoors, caring for animals and exploring the world around her with curiosity.
One year of caring for local families
For Auzzie’s family, the experience highlighted the value of having pediatric urgent care available nearby.
Unlike traditional urgent care centers designed primarily for adults, pediatric urgent care teams understand the unique medical, emotional and developmental needs of children.
“Having an expert team that cares for kids the way Rady Children’s does is such a gift to our community,” Auzzie’s mom says. “They take the extra time and steps to make sure kids are as comfortable as possible, emotionally and physically. They also understand growing bodies so much better than an adult urgent care.”
As Rady Children’s Pediatric Urgent Care in Irvine celebrates its first year serving Orange County families, stories like Auzzie’s highlight how access to specialized pediatric care can help families find answers quickly when unexpected health concerns arise.
For Auzzie and her family, one evening that began with questions ended with something every parent hopes for: timely care, clear answers and a child feeling like herself again.
