Support for Laura Clark and Her Family

Hello, my name is Angel, and I am beyond blessed to call myself Laura's daughter. I write this with a heavy heart, a hurt soul, and foreign emotions.

For our family, this past year has been the absolute most difficult, challenging, and trying time any of us have ever experienced. Our lives forever changed on March 28, 2022, when our mom, Laura, was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. The only way to combat it was for her to undertake one of the most intense chemotherapy treatments available, which she did without question or complaint. Like she always said, “I have cancer, cancer doesn’t have me.”

On July 22, 2022, after a couple difficult rounds of chemotherapy, my mom underwent an extremely intrusive surgery, entailing the removal of 2/3rds of her esophagus and 1/3rd of her stomach. All her doctors were extremely impressed by her perseverance and strength, she recovered faster than anyone they had ever seen that had undergone such an intense surgery. After spending nearly two weeks in the hospital, about half of her planned stay, she was discharged and began the extremely long, tough road to recovery. We were elated and our family begun to celebrate the news that our mom was cancer free.

Last month, my mom caught pneumonia and became septic, being admitted to the hospital yet again. Miraculously, she recovered rather quickly and returned home, remaining hopeful that it would be her last hospital trip. On November 4th, my dad, Lloyd, drove her back to the hospital because she felt something wasn’t right. Unfortunately, what happened next blindsided us all, the cancer returned with a vengeance. She developed masses on her uterus that were releasing fluid containing cancerous cells.

Cancer is a horrid, repugnant, and nasty disease. You never know the course it will take on someone’s body or how they will react to treatment. For my mom, she fought valiantly, but the cancer spread, attacked, out maneuvered, and attached to every vital organ with such aggression and ferociousness that there were no treatment options remaining for her. In the span of 6 hours, she went from 3 to 5 years to live, to 2 to 3 weeks, to “Angel, get on a plane.” She has held on for as long as she can, but in the coming days, the cancer will ultimately win.

She will be survived by myself, my dad Lloyd, her father Bob, her brother Mark, her sister Marie, her sister Kim, and my 5 siblings: Robert, Abigayle, Savannah, Jayden, and Collin. Mom is always described as one of the most selfless people anyone has ever met, always putting others before herself. She was the best teacher, principal, friend, sister, daughter, wife, and mom anyone could have asked for. She is the sheer embodiment of love, compassion, grace, empathy, strength, and so much more. She will forever be a role model and guiding light in trying times.

As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for my family. None of us have ever experienced a pain like this before and we wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but unfortunately, death is a fact of life. All I ask is if you feel the least bit generous and can find it in your heart, that you please donate to help my family in this most grievous time. All money raised will go toward my mom’s medical bills, funeral expenses, and supporting the family she will be leaving behind. My dad has entered a role that no one should ever have to, that of the single parent. He is now solely responsible for 6 children, 3 of which still being minors. With all the uncertainty this life event brings, we are also raising money for any family matters that may arise in the near future, in hopes that some finical relief will allow my dad to be able to focus on his kids, who need him now more than ever, and not have to stress about ANYTHING else. He is losing a wife, and his children are losing their mother, a pain no one should face alone. At the end of the day, we would like to afford them the ability to properly grieve.

Aside from donations, I implore you to keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. Nothing in life can ever prepare you for the pain of losing a parent or wife.

From the bottom of my family’s hearts, thank you for every thought, text, call, prayer, donation, and the constant support you all have shown. It does not go unnoticed, and words will never begin to express our gratitude. We are so thankful and appreciative.

May my mom Rest in Peace. Until we meet again Momma.

Sincerely,

Angel