A Utah mother who raised over$1 millionfor her own funeral expensestragically passed awayafter battling for two years withterminal cancer.
Erika Diarte-Carr, a 30-year-old single mom from Ogden, lost her fight with theillnesslast Friday (October 11), leaving behind two children: Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5.
“She has joined her mother Sylvia, her Brother JJ, her uncles Chava & Loui on the other side,” wrote her cousin, Angelique Rivera, confirming the news. “She fought a long and hard battle. She was strong and held on as long as she could for her babies.”
HighlightsErika raised over $1 million for her funeral amid terminal cancer.Erika was diagnosed with stage 4 cell lung carcinoma in 2022.She also faced Cushing Syndrome, a rare illness affecting cortisol.Community’s generosity uplifted Erika in her final moments.Funds raised will ensure her children’s financial stability.
Diarte-Carr was diagnosed with a stage 4 cell lung carcinoma on May 7, 2022, when doctors discovered multiple tumors throughout her body.
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A single mother from Utah who had raised more than $1,000 for her funeral passed away, but not before securing her children’s financial future
Image credits:GoFundMe
Despite the diagnosis,Erikakept her head high hoping to have her illnessenter remissionand lead a long, healthy life alongside her children.
However, in January of this year, she was further diagnosed withCushing Syndrome, an extremely rare illness that occurs in 70 people out of a million. The phenomenon occurs when someone produces or receives an excessive amount of cortisol over long periods of time.
Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, is key in allowing the body to maintain blood pressure, regulate glucose, and reduce inflammation. However, in excess, it can lead to weight gain, loss of muscle mass, depression, and other complications.
Image credits:Mike Bird
Cushing Syndrome, in particular, can lead to further problems like heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, infections, and even memory loss.
The diagnosis forced her to face the impossible task of planning her own funeral, as Erika bravely set up a GoFundMe page on January 25. The campaign was a resounding success, raising more than 230 times the expected goal of $5,000, for a grand total of $1,194,225.
Image credits:Erika Diarte-Carr
Herfundraising pageserved as a small diary of her progress, documenting her treatments and the exchanges she had with her doctor, who in 2022 said to her: “I hope you have a good support system because you’re going to need it. You have a long and difficult journey ahead.”
On September 18, Erika received the devastating news that she had only three months left to live, prompting her to prepare for her own funeral.
“I have three months to live. Three months to spend with my babies and loved ones. Three months to make the most of the time I have left,” she wrote in an emotional GoFundMe update. “Now, I have to ensure my children are taken care of after I’m gone. Planning my own funeral is the hardest thing I’ve had to face.”
“I’m planning a big family trip to create memories that’ll last a lifetime for my children,” she wrote. “Your support has ensured my kids will be financially stable for the rest of their lives. Everything will go into a trust fund for them.”
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