Just a few days after giving birth to her sixth child while simultaneously fighting a fatal brain tumor, Michigan mom Carrie DeKlyen died last Saturday morning, Sept. 9.
DeKlyen, 37, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme in April, and underwent surgery to remove the tumor at the Mercy Health Saint Mary's Campus in Grand Rapids. She then went to try a clinical trial at the University Hospital for treatment.
Early into the trial, DeKlyen discovered that she was pregnant with her sixth child. In order to continue the with the clinical program, doctors told her she would have to abort her baby. DeKlyen refused.
DeKlyen's husband, Nick, had stopped working to stay by his wife's side. The choice created financial pressures for the family, but a GoFundMe was set up to help the family make ends meet. So far, a little more than $125,000 has been raised of the campaign's $150,000 goal.
DeKlyen gave birth to "Life Lynn Nelson" while in the intensive care unit of the hospital, where she had been since late July. During her stay, she suffered a stroke and remained unconscious, forcing doctors to move her to the ICU at UM Hospital.
DeKlyen passed away shortly after the birth of her daughter, who was born prematurely weighing only 1 pound, 4 ounces. DeKlyen's sister-in-law, Sonya Nelson, told the Free Press that Carrie had passed early Saturday morning surrounded by family.
Her husband's last words to her were, "I'll see you in Heaven."
"Me and my wife, we are people of faith," said Nick DeKlyen, "We love the Lord with everything in us. We talked about it, prayed about it. Even with everything on the table, my wife chose the baby."
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