My name is Michelle Clark, all my friends and family calls me Missi, Nissi, (sometimes even Fred). I come from a family of 8 (four brothers and 3 sisters) pretty big family including nieces, nephews and so on. I am the 7th child. I grew up in the Midwest born in Clinton, IA and have also lived in Illinois and a few other states ( I have been somewhat of a gypsy at times.
In October 2007 I decided to move back home from Los Angeles (where I lived for 6 years) to be closer to family, settle down and maybe buy a home someday. I enjoyed the holidays with my family and friends and was looking for work. I started having some back pain in the middle of my back around February but thought it was just stress. Around the middle of March I started having stomach trouble as well and my sides would ache when I tried to stretch and exercise. Again, I thought this was all stress related as I still had not found gainful employment and was missing my friends back in LA.
At any rate, I did enjoy a weekend in Vegas the weekend before my 40th birthday. I was a bit tired and still having stomach trouble so the weekend was fun but I wasn't’t really feeling myself.
The week after my birthday I decided to go to the ER here in town (as I don’t have insurance) and after a few tests the docs there decided it was my gallbladder and it needed to come out. They referred me to Iowa City Surgical (about 2 hours away) but when I called I was told that they were backed up and it would be a while before I could get scheduled. In the mean time I was having more and more pain.
My sister in law is an RN here in Clinton and talked to a doctor (a GI Specialist), told him my symptoms and explained our family history of cancer. Yes, my mother died back in 87 of colon cancer that spread to her liver, we only had 3 months to say goodbye. My sisters and a brother also had small spots of skin cancer and another sister has had cancer in her bones (in complete remission). The GI doctor told my sister in law to get me to his office right away. He gave me numerous tests and found that the doctors think I have cancer in my ovaries that has already spread to my liver (numerous lesions covering my liver).
My cancer has been not been dianosed but it has been named - Adeno Carcinoma with mets to liver, tumor in abdominal cavity and lining of soft organs.
The hardest part of all of this news was telling my family and friends as I hate to see them hurt. I am 40 years old and I plan to get much older. I will fight this will all my strength, the support of my family and friends, and God.
Please send me your prayers and I thank you for your support.
Michelle (Missi) Clark
My fight with cancer
Michelle K. Clark - aka Missi
When I found out.... UPDATE
Missi has lost her fight this morning Sun Sept 7th. She will be missed but always in our hearts-please check updates for further information
