[A.A. Cunningham]

071217-N-4776G-001 PACIFIC (Dec. 17, 2007) Laura Montero 14, from Albion, Ill., center, rests comfortably in the medical ward aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) following an emergency appendectomy performed by the ship's surgeon. Laura was medically evacuated (MEDEVAC) by an HH-60H Seahawk from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron Four (HS) 4 on Dec. 15, after she suffered a ruptured appendix while vacationing aboard the Dawn Princess cruise ship off the coast of Baja, Mexico. Laura's mother Trudy Lafield, center-left, was later flown to the ship and reunited with her daughter. Mother and daughter are joined by Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Victor Ibarra, left, ship’s nurse Lt. Cmdr. Laura Ledyard, center-right, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Christopher Williams, right. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen Gorby (Released)

[mware]

A ruptured appendix, she is one lucky girl to be alive, given the circumstances.

I heard a rumor once that submariners in the early days had their appendix taken out because of that possibility. I am guessing it was just one of those urban legends, but don't know for sure.

[AirForceBrat23]

See that poster right above her head? My best friend’s dad took that aerial photo!!!