Madelyne Morris Has Half Her Pancreas Removed After 2 Years of Insulinoma Symptoms
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 7
Madelyne Morris Has Half Her Pancreas Removed After 2 Years of Insulinoma Symptoms
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 7
Summary
February surgery at Vanderbilt removed half of Madelyne Morris’s pancreas, including a benign insulinoma, after nearly two years of unexplained illness; her glucose normalized, symptoms resolved and she lost about 20 pounds in two months.
A Nov. 3, 2025 collapse pushed doctors to the diagnosis after her blood sugar fell to 28 mg/dL and tests showed her body was still producing significant insulin despite severe hypoglycemia.
Earlier scans had missed the rare pancreatic tumor, which affects about 1 to 4 people per million each year; a December MRI finally identified the small mass after a prior CT was reread.
The operation brought complications — a pancreatic leak, infection and drains and stents — and doctors are still monitoring for recurrence or diabetes from reduced insulin production.
How did a healthy 25-year-old's supposed stress turn out to be a rare, life-threatening pancreatic tumor missed by standard scans?
Why do medical professionals frequently misdiagnose rare physical tumors as psychiatric conditions before they escalate into life-or-death emergencies?
Could artificial intelligence analyzing patient symptoms prevent years of suffering for those misdiagnosed with anxiety or stress?