Still surreal that Taylor Orie is now a Whipple Warrior. Heard of a Whipple before? Neither did Taylor. It’s probably a good thing that she didn’t get to think too long or read too much about it. ‘The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is an operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct. The remaining organs are reattached to allow you to digest food normally after surgery.’ In Taylor’s case it also involved removing a part of her stomach. Her recovery process will be long, as well as costly, and she does not have healthcare to help out with the payments of her medical bills. This is already on top of her regular bills that she still has to cover while out of work. We really have no idea how much her care will add up to and expect it may be quite a bit higher than the Go Fund me request of $50k. Whatever amount you’re willing to donate is much appreciated!
The Story
On Monday, the 22nd of March, on her sister’s 31st birthday, Taylor couldn’t keep hydrated, she had been feeling ill all weekend thinking she had some type of food poisoning or stomach flu. Ruling out covid since she already had it last fall, she knew this felt different. So when her mom returned from the store after picking up some meds for her Monday morning, Taylor stepped out the door and told her not to bother getting out of the car, just take her to the hospital.
I remember getting the call from my sister. After finding abnormal bloodwork, they ran some tests and the CT results found a large mass on the head of Taylor’s pancreas. It was suspicious for malignancy. Those were the words my sister told me and they’re still etched in my brain.
When I finally got to see Taylor in her hospital room, I was struck by the irony that she was wearing one of her favorite shirts, her green ‘F*ck Cancer’ shirt in support of Stephen Amell’s charity. Really?! 
I couldn’t believe my beautiful 28 year old niece had received such news. Nothing prepares you for that. Not even her losing her dad at 9 years of age. Taylor has not had the easiest hand in life, yet she continues to shine, along with her 3 other sisters and widowed mom! They have persevered through the most challenging of times and been champions for others in their times of need.
Taylor is very private and she has a heart of gold! Through the pandemic, Taylor’s responsibilities at her Joann Fabrics job were more needed than ever. Her expertise at sewing and making masks was essential and her attention to detail was asked to support other stores get their fabric departments prepared in the same way as her busy store. I thought about all her hard work and also the fact that she was just under the hours necessary to receive health coverage. Another blow which we would put to the side, after first dealing with her immediate needs.
The doctors and hospital were amazing! Thankfully, they were thinking two steps ahead and prepping for what may be the next step after a biopsy. Was it cancer or some rare tumor? Taylor was transferred to the main hospital on Tuesday for the biopsy and was admitted there as they expected to do surgery. The team of doctors kept getting bigger by the moment and all were looking for a first look at the pathology report. Taylor was on morphine to keep the pain down and she did her best to keep her blood pressure down since it was unusually high. Finally, on Wednesday the doctors had a good idea of what they were dealing with and told Taylor they would be doing a Whipple procedure on Friday to remove her tumor.
God has been with us through this entire journey! We’re so thankful that the hospital Taylor was admitted to had a specialist in the Whipple procedure, performing 3 or more a week. The focus turned to the hope that they would be removing a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, or Frantz tumor, and that it would turn out benign. All the indicators seemed to point that way rather than the alternative of pancreatic cancer.
It was a complicated procedure to put it lightly. As her doctor said, outside of a liver transplant, it is one of the most difficult surgeries a person can face. And SHE was one of his most complicated surgeries! They expected the surgery to be 5 hours and it ended up being 8 hours. The tumor had gotten inflamed after the biopsy and it was attached to the portal vein.
Her oncology surgeon wasn’t sure at first if it could be removed, yet with the help of a great vascular surgeon on the team, they were able to! Taylor received blood transfusions during the surgery, she had complications of a collapsed lung due to the length of time under anesthesia and had to receive another blood transfusion a few days after surgery. Yet, she’s still here with us! And thanks be to God that although being roughly the size of a baby’s head, the tumor was benign! She survived her life saving surgery and has a new lease on life! 
We now also realize the recovery for a Whipple procedure is not a sprint, it is a marathon that may last up to a year, with some people lasting longer. Tay is a warrior and she’s going to need all the help we can give her through this process! She has weaned herself off painkillers prescribed at the hospital since it made her feel weird. She has never been a drinker or smoker and is hoping she can manage with the use of ibuprofen! If you read up on Whipple patients, this is a testament to her strength in managing pain.
Taylor came home Easter weekend, after nearly two weeks in the hospital! She’s on a leave of absence from work for the upcoming months and requires a great amount of therapy and follow up care for her body to recuperate. She is also currently attending online school like many folks in her age group, but now has to deal with the added burden that this surgery brings her. We are just asking for your support to help her through this most difficult time, and help her get back on her feet again. She is a fighter and we want to have her focus on getting better this year.
Thank you so much for all your support, as well taking the time to read and share Taylor’s story!
