ChatGPT Diagnoses Welsh Woman After Years of Doctor Visits

When doctors dismissed her worsening symptoms as anxiety, Phoebe Tesoriere of Cardiff, Wales, made a desperate decision that changed everything.

The 23-year-old had struggled with balance problems since childhood, initially blamed on hip issues from birth. At 19, she collapsed from her first seizure, but doctors attributed it to anxiety despite her having no history of mental health issues.

"I had no history of anxiety. I was a really happy, bubbly person," Tesoriere explained.

By 2022, she received an epilepsy diagnosis and started medication, but her condition only worsened. More seizures came, walking became difficult, and doctors added another diagnosis: Todd's paralysis, which affects some people with epilepsy.

In January 2025, a fall down the stairs landed her in the hospital for three months. Despite extensive testing, doctors found nothing conclusive.

Seven months later, a severe seizure put her in a coma for three days. Once again, doctors told her it was anxiety.

Feeling desperate and alone, Tesoriere turned to ChatGPT and described all her symptoms. The AI suggested hereditary spastic paraplegia, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle stiffness and weakness in the legs.

She brought the chatbot's findings to her doctors, who ordered genetic testing. ChatGPT was right.

Why This Inspires

Tesoriere's story isn't just about AI getting a diagnosis correct. It's about a young woman who refused to give up on herself when the system failed her.

Now using a wheelchair, she manages her symptoms through physical therapy and has found new purpose. Though she can no longer work as a teacher, she's pursuing a master's degree in psychology with one clear goal: to help others facing similar struggles.

Her journey reminds us that answers can come from unexpected places, and advocating for yourself matters. Sometimes the path to healing requires creativity, persistence, and the courage to trust yourself when others won't.

Tesoriere turned years of medical dismissal into determination to support others navigating complex health challenges.