In just one month, a terminally ill Utah mother raised over $1 million for her funeral and children’s living expenses before passing away on Friday.
Erika Diarte-Carr, 30, was a single mother to two children, 7-year-old Jeremiah and 5-year-old Aaliyah, in Ogden, Utah, near Salt Lake City.
Carr was diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung carcinoma on May 7, 2022, after doctors discovered multiple metastasized tumors, according to her GoFundMe page.
On Jan. 17, 2024, she was also diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome, a rare disorder caused by elevated cortisol levels.
‘3 Months to Live’
The illnesses caused her to experience rapid weight gain, swelling, muscle and bone deterioration, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and a condition called Moon Face.
On Sept. 18, Carr’s oncologist told her she had only three months left.
“3 months to spend with my babies and loved ones. 3 months to make the best of what time I have left,” Carr wrote.
“During these next couple of months I need to make sure my kids will be ok after I am gone,” she added. “I am faced now with the most difficult thing of planning my own funeral.”
$1 Million Raised
Carr said the dire circumstances required her to seek financial support. Unable to work due to her prognosis and without life insurance, she hoped to raise around $5,000 for funeral expenses and to “leave something behind for my babies.”
She admitted feeling ashamed and embarrassed for people to know her real situation, saying, “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,” she wrote.
In an Oct. 3 update, Carr’s GoFundMe had raised over $1,180,000 by Monday evening. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed.
As of Oct. 15, the total amount raised has reached over $1,192,000.
A Scam?
Carr addressed speculation about whether her story was a scam, saying, “I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart that this has caused some doubt and worry regarding your own donation.”
To reassure donors, she planed to eventually go live on TikTok when she is able, saying, “I want to make sure everyone knows that this is, unfortunately, a real situation.”
She asked for patience, however, explaining, “Even the simplest day to day things that come easy to you are no longer easy for me, and some things tend to take me a lot longer and it’s a struggle to get things done in a timely manner.”
‘She Fought a Long and Hard Battle’
Carr shared that she planned to use the funds for a memorable family trip to give her children “memories that’ll last a lifetime.”
She also promised that the rest of the money would go into a trust fund to keep her children financially stable for “the rest of their lives.”
Carr expressed her deep gratitude to the donors for making such a positive impact on her children’s future.
“You’re truly an Angel and I’m blessed to have gained your care, love, support, and prayers,” she wrote.
“She fought a long and hard battle,” Carr’s cousin, Angelique Rivera, wrote on Facebook. “She was strong and held on as long as she could for her babies.”