Feb 13, 2008 - 08:46:42 CST
It takes a special sixth-grader to belt out "Tomorrow" and leave her classmates and principal speechless and dabbing tears from their eyes.Not many sixth-graders are like Taylor Welch. She has a sunny disposition like the orphan she portrays in the Martin Luther School production of "Annie." They also share a hard knock life.
Taylor has cancer. Again.
"We weren't expecting it," her mother, Teri Welch said. "She was low risk ... We didn't expect it to come back."
The school will give a special production Saturday at the University of Mary of selected scenes. It is at 7 p.m. in the Arno Gustin Hall at the University of Mary. The next day, the Welch family will go to Rochester, Minn., for Taylor to get a biopsy and start treatment.
View video of the play at the bottom of the page.
"I'm kind of nervous," Taylor said. "I have to trust the Lord to get me through this,"she said.
The cancer was supposed to be behind her, with a good prognosis given in the summer. Last year, she went through treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft-tissue tumor, that showed up in her ear. Chemotherapy stopped in January last year. Then her hair grew back.
Taylor was excited to be back at school this year. When the play came up, Taylor wanted so much to be in it, and she got the lead.
"It's a dream. It's just better than words,"Taylor said about getting the lead.
Then she started feeling sick. Her family thought she had a swollen gland in her neck. Her doctors treated it, thinking it was an infection. But, it didn't get better.
It means so much to her that the school is putting on a special production just for her.
"It's one of the best gifts I could ever have," Taylor said. "I can't believe they're doing this for me."
Her friends are happy to do it for her.
"I just feel so happy to get to do this," McKenzie Zittleman said. "She is like my best friend. I'm so happy we get to do this for her."
She'll be driven to the performance in a limousine. The ride was donated; same with the hall rental at University of Mary. A benefit fund also was set up at Starion Financial. People will be asked for freewill donations at the production Saturday, and the proceeds will go into the fund. People also can go to a Starion branch and make a donation to the Taylor Welch Benefit Fund.
Taylor's family will persevere through this ordeal with a strong faith in God.
"Everybody's question is why Taylor, or why anyone,"Teri Welch said. "We feel like we're not mad at God. We realize He has a greater purpose for her. Whatever we have to go through, we are willing to do it."
(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)
TK wrote on Feb 18, 2008 9:46 PM:
Ryan Drevlow wrote on Feb 15, 2008 2:20 PM:
Go Taylor wrote on Feb 13, 2008 7:08 PM:
haze wrote on Feb 13, 2008 2:34 PM:
Pam Des Roches wrote on Feb 13, 2008 2:07 PM:
PO3 wrote on Feb 13, 2008 1:27 PM:
A Mom wrote on Feb 13, 2008 12:15 PM:
Faye Hintz wrote on Feb 13, 2008 11:38 AM:
Online Editor wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:11 AM:
people care wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:03 AM:
wow wrote on Feb 13, 2008 8:26 AM:
We are so happy that you are getting to do this! You must be very excited!
We can't wait to see you perform! It's going to be awesome!!!
You have a big road ahead of you in the weeks to come....stay strong and hold tight to your faith! "
Sunny wrote on Feb 13, 2008 8:06 AM:
God Bless wrote on Feb 13, 2008 7:48 AM:
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