Kali Mork has always considered herself a rule follower. So as her 40th birthday approached, this busy Fargo mom of three young daughters made a point to schedule her annual mammogram.
Due to a family history of breast cancer, Kali had always been vigilant about her own health. She did self-checks regularly and two years earlier, at age 38, she’d even opted for a baseline mammogram to screen for any abnormalities. That test came back normal so, when the time came for her first official “post-age-40” mammogram, she wasn’t overly scared or nervous.
But shortly after the exam, she received a phone call that turned her world upside down.
“They saw some changes from my baseline exam,” Kali said.
From there, doctors ordered an ultrasound to look closer, followed by a biopsy.
“The official diagnosis was invasive ductile carcinoma,” she said. “All I could think about was my family. My kids. I thought about my best friends and how they could step in to help if I wouldn’t make it.”
Kali’s breast cancer diagnosis marked the beginning of a grueling 14-month journey of courage, determination, strength and, most of all, hope. Thanks to expert care from the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center and the support of programs made possible by philanthropy, she and her family felt wrapped in love and support every step of the way.
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Everyone involved with Roger Maris should be proud. There’s just something special there. Each step of the way there was someone who made a difference, someone who went above and beyond to give us a sense of normalcy during this storm in our lives where we were feeling pure chaos. They do that so well.
Mother, Wife & Breast Cancer Survivor
The Power of the Mammogram
Within the Sanford Roger Maris Center is the Edith Sanford Breast Center, where specialists work with patients at all stages of breast health — from screening and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. Here, philanthropy fuels things like nurse navigation, massage therapy, snacks for chemotherapy patients and lifesaving equipment like 3D mammography machines, a precision screening equipment that can detect abnormalities in breast tissue at the earliest possible stages.
“My mammogram saved my life,” Kali said. “My tumors were so far back that during surgery my doctors had to take out chest wall muscle in order to get the margins. I wouldn’t have found the lumps myself for a very long time.”
Kali knows her story isn’t just one of survival — it’s one made possible by the generosity of others.
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There’s no way to convey the depth of gratitude we have in our hearts for the donors who support the Roger Maris Cancer Center. It’s the little pieces that all combine to make such a big difference. There just aren’t words.
The Storm
Over the course of her breast cancer journey, Kali weathered a whirlwind of tests, procedures and treatments that impacted her body, mind and spirit in extraordinary ways including seven mammograms, three ultrasounds, four biopsies, two surgeries, 12 weeks of chemotherapy and 25 rounds of radiation — just to name a few.
She and her husband tried their best to keep life at home as normal as possible for their three daughters, but the uncertainty of what was ahead was always on her mind.
“Cancer was always there, whispering in my ear: ‘You aren’t strong enough to withstand the storm,’” Kali said.
So, she made a choice — instead of focusing on fear, she chose to be boldly brave. She began sharing her cancer journey on social media to help drive awareness for the importance of mammograms, and to serve as a beacon of hope for others who were navigating a cancer diagnosis.
“As a patient — as someone whose life has been forever altered by cancer — learning from other people’s stories has helped me so much,” she said. “All those questions like, ‘What am I in for?’ and ‘What can I expect?’ — they’re overwhelming. I want to be a source of hope for others going through this.”
“I’ve never shied away from hard things. So for me, it was like this: Cancer, you messed with the wrong person. You think you’re the storm? You thought wrong. I am the storm.”
“I’ll never understand why God put this storm in my life. All I can do is hope to learn from it. My husband and I have a very strong foundation in our faith. We knew God was with us through this storm,” she said.
In April 2025, Kali completed treatment and took part in a cherished tradition at Roger Maris: ringing the bell. She’s getting stronger every day and looking ahead to the next chapter in her life.
“This journey is a huge thread in the fabric of my life. There are so many examples I could share of people who went above and beyond to help me and my family through this. I’m so grateful and I hope my story helps others — whether it inspires someone to schedule their annual mammogram, or whether it brings hope to someone weathering their own cancer storm.”
Give for Good
Today, breast cancer affects one in eight women, along with thousands of men each year. With your support, we can improve access to lifesaving screenings, accelerate advances in research and give meaningful strength and support to local patients fighting this devastating disease right now.
When you give through the Sanford Health Foundation, 100% of your donation will support:
- Services like Nurse Navigation, offering guidance and support from day one of a diagnosis
- Leading-edge equipment like 3D mammography machines, offering the most advanced early-detection technology
- Cutting-edge research and clinical trials
- Items that provide patient comfort and support
- And so much more!