Mom of two, 33, planning own funeral after devastating cancer diagnosis: ‘The most difficult thing’

A Utah mother of two has begun planning her own funeral after learning she only has three months left to live after

While at the hospital for shoulder surgery in May 2022, Erika Diarte-Carr, 33, learned she has Stage 4 small cell lung carcinoma, a rare form of cancer, she explained on GoFundMe.

The young mom began treatment for the cancer but was dealt another blow in January, when she was diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome.

Cushing is caused by an excess amount of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Weight gain, a round face and high blood pressure are among its symptoms, and the disorder It can be fatal if left untreated.

Only 40 to 70 people out of every 1 million have Cushing, making the syndrome extremely rare, according to the National Institues of Health.

Diarte-Carr said she had an appointment with her oncologist on Sept. 18, who told her the treatments weren’t working.

“I have been given 3 months to live,” Diarte-Carr wrote on GoFundMe. “3 months to spend with my babies and loved ones. 3 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.”

Diarte-Carr said she had been unable to work for months.

“I do not have any finances saved up or any life insurance set aside for this situation,” she wrote. “I have looked into the expenses and I am needing to raise about $5,000 to ensure funeral costs are covered plus I’m wanting to leave something behind for my babies.”

The GoFundMe page was launched when Diarte-Carr was still 30, soon after she learned about her illness.

As of Saturday afternoon, it had far surpassed its original $5,000 goal, with more than $840,000 from over 29,000 donations

A humbled Diarte-Carr said the money left after her funeral is covered will be set aside in a trust fund for her kids, Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5.

“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.

“Me and my family thank you ALL from the bottom of our hearts,” she wrote, adding, “[My children] are my whole life, light and soul. My children are my fight and what keep me going.”

All three will soon take a trip together, and Diarte-Carr is hopeful they’ll get to spend one last Christmas together.