A Sarnia mother of 4 is fighting to survive. Defined by those close to her as a true warrior and an exemplary mother, Krista Clark has been in a constant fight with Stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Clark’s 10-year old daughter Jaylyn, who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at the very young age of 3, fought the disease for 7 long years, always with Krista fighting by her side, before unfortunately losing her battle in November of last year.
“Jaylyn was just like her mom. This kid, even as sick as she was, and as much as they were poking and doing all of these chemo treatments, I have never seen her without a smile on her face. She was like our mini warrior, our mini Krista” said Angela Magliaro, a close family friend.
After only a few short months of grieving the loss of her daughter, Clark who has worked for 10 years at a Long Term Care facility at Marshall Gowland Manor, was required to go back to work to sustain her 3 other kids.
One day at work, Krista started having back pain but didn’t think much of it, since she normally would do very physical tasks at her job. Once the pain worsened she decided to go to the hospital to have it checked, only to be diagnosed with Cancer at an advanced state.
Due to the pandemic, her treatment was delayed, and by the time she received it the tumor had metastasized to her liver, lung, colon, uterus, and her lymph nodes. At that time doctors deemed her Terminal.
Krista is currently receiving treatment at a London Hospital, and doctors have sent her this past week sent her for scans, to see whether the treatment was slowing down the aggressive tumor. Unfortunately, it shows that the chemo has had no effect on it, and now there is 40% more cancer growth in her body.
Krista Clark with twin sons Jett and Jagger, 8, and jack 6.
Despite the struggles and health complications Krista is still positive and fighting to stay alive for her 3 boys. “Krista is like a supermom. She’s got 3 boys, two 8-year old’s twins, and a 6-year-old keep you pretty busy, but she has been absolutely incredible. Even being as sick as she right now, she is still going as hard as she can for her boys” described Magliaro.
Her three boys have been supporting her all along and have been by her side every step of the way. “These 3 boys, absolutely adore their mom, they realize mom is sick, I don’t know that they know the gravity of it, but when she is feeling unwell, they try to help out as much as they can” added Magliaro.
Krista’s family and close friends have set up a GoFundMe page, to help her with treatment expenses along her journey. The page has raised so far $38,100 out of the 40,000 initial goal.
“I can’t thank every community from London, Sarnia, and even Toronto enough. It is unbelievable and blows my mind every time I open my emails or read something on Facebook, and Krista as well, is just blown away by how much love is out there” said Angela Magliaro in tears.
