Join Kelly's Journey: Healing and Hope

Help Kelly Clark Heal and Rebuild After Cancer, Stroke, and Surgery

Kelly Clark is a proud Pawleys Island, South Carolina native, born on July 4, 1976 — a true firecracker spirit from the very beginning.

A lifelong artist, craftsman, cabinet maker, metal fabricator, blacksmith, and designer, Kelly has spent his life creating beauty — crafting homes, forging metal, contemporary abstract painting, and building meaningful art installations for clients and friends. Everything he touches, he makes special.

But beneath that creative life lies the story of a true survivor.

Kelly fought through an unbelievably difficult childhood. He battled and overcame alcoholism — and this Mother’s Day 2025, he celebrates six years of hard-earned sobriety.

His strength, his grit, and his heart have carried him through life’s toughest storms.

And now, he faces the biggest battle of his life.

Kelly’s Fight Against Cancer

In 2017, Kelly was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma — a devastating cancer of the throat.

At the time, the tumor was considered inoperable, and Kelly endured brutal rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to survive.

The treatments worked — for a while.

In February 2024, the cancer returned aggressively.

On March 13, 2024, Kelly underwent a massive, life-altering surgery:

Removal of the mass in his throat

Removal of part of his tongue, tonsils, and soft palate

Permanent closure of one nasal airway

Construction of a tiny new airway on the other side to prevent him from aspirating food and liquids

This grueling surgery explained why the cancer had once been inoperable — the risks were enormous.

Since March, Kelly has endured six surgeries and counting, with more likely ahead.

The Cost of Survival

Kelly’s recovery has been unimaginably hard:

He lost his sense of smell and taste, stripping away some of the simple joys of life.

A skin graft from his arm was used to rebuild his throat — but hair began growing inside, painfully stabbing him and making it difficult to swallow.

Despite laser treatments and painful removals, the hair keeps growing back, causing constant suffering.

Severe headaches, blisters from laser treatments, and relentless drainage from his head leave him feeling disabled, exhausted and in pain.

He battles vertigo, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

His body fights the airway tubes needed to keep him breathing — they have had to be replaced about a dozen times, each tube different and challenging from the last.

Every time a tube is removed, the hole closes almost instantly, forcing surgeons to create a new one.

Through it all, Kelly keeps working, when he should be resting and healing — because that's who he is.

A creator. A fighter. A man who refuses to give up.

A Stroke — And Another Surgery

The brutal radiation treatments that saved Kelly’s life also left lasting damage.

Over Easter weekend this year, Kelly suffered a stroke, doctors say was caused by radiation. He has 75% blockage to his right carotid artery.

The stroke impaired the left side of his body — but, thankfully, his dominant right side was spared, giving him hope of rebuilding strength over time.

And tomorrow, Kelly will undergo endovascular stent placement surgery to repair his carotid artery.

This procedure is dangerous but necessary — a race against time to prevent another stroke and preserve his future.

Why Kelly Needs Our Help

It’s incredibly hard for Kelly to ask for help.

He has always believed in taking care of himself, no matter what.

Even now, he pushes himself to keep creating, to keep working, when most would have given up long ago.

But the truth is, this journey has been devastating financially, emotionally, and Kelly simply cannot do it alone anymore.

Medical bills, living expenses, travel for treatments, and the day-to-day cost of survival are enormous.

How You Can Help

Any donation, no matter the size, helps Kelly stay afloat and focused on healing.

Your support will go directly to:

Covering medical bills, he has had no insurance for almost all of this journey. A few months ago he qualified for Medicaid. His out of pocket medical expenses have been financially devastating.

Supporting living expenses during recovery

Allowing Kelly the time to rest, heal, and regain his strength

Giving him a chance to rebuild his life and return to doing what he loves: creating, building, and inspiring others

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser with your community by word of mouth or social media.

Words of encouragement and love mean the world right now.

Kelly has fought so hard to be here.

Let's fight alongside him now — and help give him hope to reclaim the beautiful, creative life he deserves.