Support Brian Clark's Battle with Leukemia

Hello, my name is Jennifer Clark and I would like to introduce (or re-introduce) you all to my brother-in-law, Brian Clark. He is one of a kind, and I have been fortunate enough to have him in my life since 1985! He is my husband Tim’s older brother. A loving son, brother, uncle, husband, father, and Veteran! Brian enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and was active duty from 1983-1987, stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Little did any of us know how his selfless act of serving his country would impact his life and his entire family's lives so drastically.

Brian married his wonderful wife, Mary Jo, in August 1995, and they have raised two fantastic children, Makenzie and Griffin. Brian has been a devoted and loving husband, father, and coach. Brian’s family means the world to him!

In the summer of 2023, Brian started noticing he wasn’t feeling like himself. He would become tired easily and would become out of breath with little exertion. After a bad day led to a Latrobe ER visit, he was admitted.

On July 7, 2023, Brian was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was quickly transferred on July 8th to Shadyside Hospital to begin chemotherapy treatment. Brian completed inpatient chemotherapy from July to August 2023. To all of our disbelief, they have linked Brian’s diagnosis to the Camp Lejeune Toxic Water! While serving his country, he was ingesting water with cancer-causing pollutants!

Over the last year and a half, Brian has spent most of that time in Shadyside Hospital and has been unable to work. He has battled infections, bacterial pneumonia, and several setbacks along the way, delaying his treatment. After another heavy round of chemotherapy, he received a stem cell transplant in June 2024. We were very optimistic and encouraged, but he didn’t bounce back like they had hoped. Soon, his little girl was getting married, and he was determined to walk her down the aisle. Brian did just that on August 24, 2024, but then sadly had to return right back to Shadyside Hospital. Also, Brian just had to spend his 60th birthday in Shadyside Hospital.

The few times Brian was able to be at home, he had to make daily trips to Shadyside for his treatments. Not only the mental anguish, but financial stress became very real for the family.

You may say, the military should be helping them… they will cover his medical bills AFTER his insurance pays. Unfortunately, they do nothing to help with their daily bills or added expenses of the back-and-forth hospital travels.

As hard as Brian is fighting, he is meeting challenges day after day. Most recently, he is battling fungal pneumonia. Even on antibiotics, he is struggling to breathe. Brian recently had to be intubated and life-flighted, being placed in Shadyside ICU! After doing a little better, they were able to extubate, only to have to intubate again two days later. Brian is still intubated and in the ICU! He needs all our strength and prayer to fight this, so please keep he and his family in your thoughts and prayers!

Brian is fighting so hard to gain strength so he is able to have chemotherapy again, which could potentially allow him to have another stem cell transplant. We are all praying every day, and we ask you to please do the same! The power of prayer is so amazing! Our purpose here is to help their family in any way we can. We would like to alleviate the financial strain they face each day so they can focus on healing. If you can donate in any way, any amount would be greatly appreciated. If not a monetary donation, even a gas card or grocery card can help them so very much!

We love Brian dearly and need him here with us and healthy. If you are unable to donate, we understand and just ask you to please keep Brian and his family in your prayers. God is good and will hear our prayers! If you would like to just share a card or well wishes, please send any to this address: 112 Amber Drive, Latrobe, PA 15650, and we will be sure to pass them on to Brian. Anything to lift his spirits would be wonderful! And PLEASE, feel free to like and share this page with anyone who you think would like to hear Brian’s story! Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts, and please remember to hug your loved ones deeply every day! ❤️