Question about contract

Hello fellow travel nurses,

Back in 2007, I signed a contract for a California 4-week assignment with Access Nurses. Well, I ended up moving the contract back and post poned once again due to my dad getting sick and me getting married. My recruiter told me she would call me and somehow we have lost touch. Needless to say, I forgot about this assignment. Well, last month I got a letter in the mail saying a owe a collection agency $857 bucks!! I called and told them in May I can do as assignment in the St Louis/Chicago area and they do not have anything in the area.....Is there anyway I can get out of this contract?? I called the company and they said NO!! I tried to bargain with them, explaining my situation and they could have cared less!!

Any advice, much appreciated!!

Brandie