The family of a single mother who raised $1.2 million for her children when she died of cancer held a candlelight vigil for her ahead of her funeral.
Erika Diarte-Carr died on October 11 in Ogden, Utah, after a long battle with a very aggressive form of small cell lung carcinoma, aged just 31.
She began planning her own funeral after receiving the devastating diagnosis, and hoped to raise $5,000 to pay for it.
Instead, thousands of people around the world raised more than $1.2 million, with all excess money held in trust for her children Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5.
Mother-of-two Erika Diarte-Carr has died from terminal cancer, but not before raising $1.2 million for her children Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5
Carr’s funeral will take place on October 23 at the local Leavitt’s Mortuary, and her family held a wake on Thursday evening.
“She was everything to me, and she was the person I could run to and who was always there for me, despite everything,” said her sister Vanessa Barnes.
Gina Barnes, Carr’s other sister, said her children were “having a really hard time” but were helped by community support.
“We’re just trying to grieve together and really show people who Erika was. She was a wonderful person, very kind-hearted, pathetic.”
Jeramiah was baptized Sunday morning by The Genesis Project in Ogden as prayers and baptismal blessings were said for his younger sister.
Lead Pastor Matt Roberts told the congregation that Erika’s dying wish was to be baptized, as were her children.
Utah mother-of-two Diarte-Carr has died from terminal cancer, her family has confirmed in heartbreaking social media posts
Her diagnosis of Cushing’s disease led to a worsening of her condition after her treatment stopped, leaving her as ill as before she died
He told those in attendance: “This family is facing unprecedented times, but today we celebrate the legacy a mother left for her children.”
Carr’s family shared heartbreaking black and white photos of her after she died in bed, with her face obscured by a heart emoji.
Just a few feet away, two family members could be seen embracing in grief, while another black and white shot appeared to show the mother in bed during her final moments.
“RIP my beautiful angel, forever in our hearts and never forgotten,” her cousin Angelique Rivera wrote. “I’ll see you on the other side, my love.”
Her shock terminal cancer diagnosis came after she walked into the emergency room three years ago with only a shoulder injury.
She received the devastating news just one day before Mother’s Day in 2022, before learning on January 17 this year that she also had Cushing’s syndrome.
This caused her to gain weight quickly, more than 60 pounds in a few weeks.
Diarte-Carr’s cousin posted a black and white photo of a relative hugging her young son as his mother lay dying in bed next to them
Diarte-Carr (pictured in her final days) died at the age of 33, relatives confirmed
Carr suffered from deterioration of muscles and bones, high blood pressure, moon face and type 2 diabetes.
She told me ABC-4 that Cushing also prevented her from walking.
The single mother continued to work full-time for as long as possible, taking only two months off for appointments, surgeries, biopsies, radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
“I felt ashamed that people knew the truth that I kept this a secret for as long as possible,” she wrote in one GoFundMe page“but the physical effects are starting to take over, and I can no longer hide it.”
The treatments stopped when her scans started to improve, but her Cushing’s disease dramatically affected her health and quality of life in the following months.
“Three months to spend with my babies and loved ones,” Diarte-Carr wrote shortly before she died, “three months to make the most of the time I have left.”
Carr continued to work full-time for as long as possible, taking only two months off for appointments, surgeries, biopsies, radiation and chemotherapy treatments
She said Cushing’s disease was one of the main reasons her health deteriorated to where she is today.
Carr stopped her treatments in September because they were no longer effective, and was told she had only three months to live.
“Three months to spend with my babies and loved ones,” she wrote, “three months to make the most of the time I have left.”
Carr explained that she wanted to spend time with her children without getting sick from treatments and medications.
She says all her energy is now focused on her children, and she wanted to “just make the most of it” in the time left.
She was now faced with the difficult task of planning her own funeral and ensuring that her children would be cared for.
She asked for help in any way she could and launched the page with a goal of $5,000 to be used for her funeral expenses and support for her children after her death. The fundraising campaign has since surpassed $750,000.
‘Because I have not been able to work for months, I have not saved any money and have not reserved any life insurance for this situation. If you can please donate or share it would be appreciated,” she said.
She started a fundraiser asking for help in any way she could, with a goal of $5,000 on GoFundMe for her funeral and to help her children after her death
“Any money that has gone over my funeral expenses is now being put into a trust fund for my babies, that way I can leave something for them and still make sure they are okay when they grow up,” Diarte- Carr wrote
Diarte-Carr then gave an update to those who had or will donate that she had stopped her treatments as they were no longer effective, and was told she had three months to live.
Her cousin Rivera shared a heartbreaking photo of her children hugging their mother on a hospital bed and that her story touched the hearts of many.
“We are at a loss for words and can never say thank you enough,” Rivera wrote.
Viewers of the post reached out in the comments, offering help and support to the family anyway.
‘Is there anything else we can do? Meals? Halloween costumes? Her story touched so many people!! I pray for her and her sweet babies.” wrote one.
Another commented, “Omg I’m praying so damn hard for her comfort and for her sweet babies who will have to navigate without their mama. This story tore me apart. Please, God watch over these beautiful people.”
Scores of others offered help to the children and Carr in her final months with toys, donations and food, asking how they could get involved.
Carr stopped her treatments in September as they were no longer effective, and was told she had only three months to live
Her community in Ogden, Utah provided a lot of help and support to the single mother and her family, offering meals, toys, food, money and prayers as well as any help they could give
Thanking those who contributed, she wrote: “Any money that has gone over my funeral costs is now being put into a trust fund for my babies, that way I can leave something for them and still make sure they will do. okay if they get bigger.”
Carr also expressed gratitude to her medical team in Ogden for their “time, care and patience.”
“Me and my family thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!” she said.
She added: ‘[My children] are my whole life, light and soul. My children are my fight and what keeps me going.”
Five-year-old Ailiyah told ABC 4: “She’s special to us.”
The family plans to go camping and they hope the children can enjoy another Christmas with their mother.