Even though many knew this day was coming it still didn't make it any easier for singer, songwriter, and chef Kelis. Her husband Mike Mora, has passed away at only 37 years old.
“After a tough two-year battle with cancer, we are devastated to have to confirm the loss of our beloved brother Mike," an official statement from the family read.
"An amazing Father, husband, and friend who gave so genuinely and cared so deeply for his family and friends," the statement continued. "Through this difficult period, we ask that you respect the privacy of Kelis and her family at this time.”
Kelis and the photographer have been married since 2014 and they share two kids: Shepherd, 6, and a 1-year-old daughter, Galilee. Kelis is also mom to her 12-year-old son, Knight, whom she shares with ex-husband Nas.
We first reported about this in October 2021 when Mora was given only months to live.
A few days after Kelis gave birth to the couple's second child in 2020, Mora decided to get himself checked out for a terrible pain that he was feeling in his stomach and in his back.
Mora was eventually diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma and after undergoing a biopsy, it was discovered that the cancer had also spread to his lymph nodes and back.
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“It was a bit late,” he shared on Instagram. “But just in time.”
In an Instagram post in 2021, Mora detailed
his cancer story.
“Loss of appetite. Pain in my back also started to creep in…finally decided to do something about it,” he wrote in a quick scrolling post. “It was a bit late. But just in time.”
“I thought the whole time that I just had an ulcer. With no idea what was about to come my way,” he continued. “Here I was, in a hospital bed, during the middle of the pandemic. All alone.”
Most cancers of the stomach (about 90% to 95%) are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells in the innermost lining of the stomach (the mucosa). If you are told you have stomach cancer (or gastric cancer), it will almost always be an adenocarcinoma.
In the United States, stomach cancer is more likely to affect the area where the long tube (esophagus) that carries food you swallow meets the stomach. This area is called the gastroesophageal junction.
Warning Signs of Stomach Cancer
There may be no symptoms of stomach cancer early on. Later, symptoms include feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, nausea, heartburn, or indigestion.
- Poor appetite.
- Weight loss (without trying)
- Abdominal (belly) pain.
- Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel.
- Feeling full after eating only a small meal.
- Heartburn or indigestion.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting, with or without blood.
Cancers that can have no symptoms
- Gastrointestinal: dark stool from digested blood, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting blood
- Whole body: cancer-related fatigue or loss of appetite
When to see a doctor
If you have signs and symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will likely investigate more-common causes of these signs and symptoms first.
One of Mora's earlier posts shares how he was looking forward to beating the cancer by sharing the ups and downs of cancer openly.
"I never thought this could happen to me," wrote Mora. "At just 36, with 3 kiddos, and a wife that loves me. I want to be able to help those that might be experiencing something like this- a life-altering disease full of questions and doubt- maybe, hopefully. By showing that it’s possible to make it through,” he added."
Rest in peace and our prayers continue to go out to Kelis and their entire family.
