Mother who raised more than $1 million for her children after being diagnosed with terminal cancer dies at age 30

A mother who raised more than $1 million to help support her young son and daughter after a terminal cancer diagnosis has died at the age of 30.

Erika Diarte-Carr, a single mother of a 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, died on Oct. 11, her cousin, Angel Martinez, confirmed to ABC News.

Martinez also shared the news of her cousin’s death in a Facebook post on Oct. 12, writing, “She fought a long and hard battle. She was strong and held on as long as she could for her babies. I know she was so grateful.” for all your support, love and prayers.”

Diarte-Carr’s death came more than two years after she was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer, according to her viral GoFundMe, which she started just weeks before her death.

Diarte-Carr, of Ogden, Utah, said in the GoFundMe that she was diagnosed in May 2022 with small cell lung carcinoma, a type of “fast-growing cancer that forms in the tissues of the lung,” according to National Cancer. Institute.

“On May 7, 2022, the day before Mother’s Day, I walked into the emergency room for what I thought was a normal shoulder injury and walked out diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer, with the doctor’s words repeating in my head: I hope you have a good support system at home because you will need it, you have a long and hard journey ahead of you,” wrote Diarte-Carr, who also wrote of her diagnosis: “At that moment, mine and My children’s entire lives were changed forever, as were those of everyone around us.”

The 30-year-old also shared that she received another difficult diagnosis in January when she learned she had Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal disorder that occurs when the body produces too much cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

In her fundraising plea, Diarte-Carr said she could no longer work, which had placed a financial burden on her family.

Diarte-Carr said she was told in September that her prognosis was worsening and decided to stop treatment to maximize her time with her children and family.

As her plea went viral and skyrocketed to more than $1 million in donations, Diarte-Carr said the money would be used for her funeral expenses and for a trust fund for her two children.

“That way I can leave something behind for them and still make sure they’re okay as they grow up,” she wrote.

In September, Diarte-Carr told ABC station KTVX-TV that she was shocked by the amount of support she received from friends and strangers alike.

“It happened overnight. I never expected that,” she told KTVX. “I never expected there to be a big funeral service, or that a lot of people would help me. The way it’s happened, I’m just in shock… I’m just really grateful for everyone and everything that’s been there.”