The Dublin community has a chance to rally around a neighbor who has taught so many as retired coach PattieLu Clark is fighting breast cancer, presenting the family with unexpected expenses.
Coach Clark served Dublin ISD for 19 years before retiring in 2019 so she could spend time with family as her first grandson was born in October of that year.
Since then, she has spent her time chasing around three grandsons, officiating volleyball and working volleyball camps as well and running private camps. She also helped start a thrift store and food pantry in Gustine. She is currently chairman of the board.
The Clark family first faced cancer when PattieLu’s husband, Mark, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021.
“I was at my very first day of in-service as a teacher in Gustine and my dad called and asked if when I got off if I could drive him to the ER,” said their daughter, Sunny. “I was quite confused and continued to ask questions. I later got it out of him that the clinic in Dublin had called and told him to get to an ER because he was septic.”
After diagnosis, Mark stayed at Scott & White in Temple for treatment as well as did a lot of driving back and forth.
“It was hard watching him in the hospital at Scott & White for 6 weeks during covid,” said PattieLu. “I could not go every day because of covid and because of babysitting our oldest grandson every day.” She added it was also scary because his variant of leukemia was the first of its kind fought at Scott & White.
The treatment resulted in extra expenses between gas and motel stays, but perhaps the greatest difficulty was Mark had to miss his daughter, Stormy’s wedding day. Sunny later gifted the fatherdaughter dance at her own wedding to him and Stormy.
Mark got to ‘ring the bell’ as cancer-free in April of 2022.
“It was great seeing him ring the bell- A very big burden lifted off our shoulders,” said PattieLu.
That relief was called back in October 2023 as PattieLu was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Sunny remembered hearing the news: “The report coming back that it was in fact cancer caused a world wind of emotions because we felt like we had just been there - in the same position, just a different parent. But mom took it strong and never even dropped her head, she just kept saying, ‘Let’s fight. I’m gonna fight.’” Sunny reported that the pre-surgery chemo was tough as the mixture actually burned blisters on PattieLu’s fingers and toes. She has gone through the chemo and a mastectomy, but there is still more to do.
“In order to ensure her full recovery, our mom now needs to undergo post-surgery treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, to remove any remaining cancerous tissue,” Sunny and Stormy wrote in a Facebook post. “These treatments are crucial, but they come with significant financial costs. As a family, we are facing some challenges in covering these expenses.”
These expenses include the loss of PattieLu’s Club volleyball work, medical costs and an increase in gas and vehicle maintenance as the radiation will require five trips to Brownwood every week for six weeks.
“Hopefully she will tolerate the post surgery chemo so she can officiate fall volleyball,” said Sunny.
“Prayers are appreciated, and if anyone would like to donate that would be greatly appreciated,” said Sunny. “There will be a fundraiser in Gustine sometime in July, more details to come about that.”
Those wishing to help can also send donations to @ SCClark11 on Venmo and $CoachClark7 on CashApp.
You can also take a donation and deposit it directly into their bank account at the Dublin or Gustine branch of First National Bank.