A Utah mother of two is planning her own funeral after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only three months left to live. Erika Diarte-Carr, 30, went in for shoulder surgery in May 2022, only to learn that she has stage 4 small cell lung carcinoma, which is a rare form of cancer.
She soon started treatments, but shortly after was also diagnosed with Cushing syndrome in January 2023. Cushing syndrome is a rare condition caused by too much of the hormone cortisol in the body, and affects 40 to 70 people out of 1 million each year, according to Cleveland Clinic.
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Now, Erika has began planning her own funeral and raising money for her children, Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5. "I have been given 3 months to live," she wrote on GoFundMe, expressing that she decided to discontinue treatments.
"3 months to spend with my babies and loved ones. Three months to make the best of what time I have left. During these next couple of months I need to make sure my kids will be ok after I am gone. I am faced now with the most difficult thing of planning my own funeral."
The mother is now unable to work, which has put a financial strain on her family. "I have been ashamed and embarrassed for people to know the truth, that I have kept this a secret for as long as I could but the physical effects are starting to take control and I can’t hide it any longer. I’ve never been good at accepting or asking for help but unfortunately, I believe I’ve come to a point in my life and health where that is no longer an option for me. I am no longer able to physically work which has put a major financial burden on me."
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Out of the $5,000 goal that Erika set for her funeral costs and for a little to leave behind for her children, she has raised $1,031,962 as of this writing. She updated that the extra money will go into a trust fund for her kids.
"That way I can leave behind something for them and I can still ensure they are going to be OK as they grow up," she wrote. "They are my whole life, light and soul. My children are my fight and what keep me going."
