A mother of two has begun planning her own funeral after discovering that her shoulder pain was actually a symptom of terminal cancer.
Erika Diarte-Carr, 33, went to the hospital three years ago for what she believed was a routine shoulder injury, only to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of small cell lung carcinoma, with multiple tumors throughout her body. Erika, the mother of Ailiyah, 5, and Jeremiah, 7, has since spent her time undergoing treatment while preparing for her children’s future. Recently, she has started fundraising to cover her funeral expenses, hoping to relieve her family of the financial burden. Just 10 days ago, doctors informed her she had only three months left to live.
Erika first received her devastating diagnosis on May 7, 2022, the day before Mother’s Day in the US. She recalls walking into the emergency room for what she thought was a typical shoulder issue, only to walk out with a stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis. The doctors revealed that multiple tumors had metastasized, including in her bones, where the cancer initially manifested. In a further blow, Erika was diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome in January, which led to rapid weight gain, muscle and bone deterioration, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes.
Reflecting on her journey, Erika opened up about her struggle on her fundraising page: “I’ve been ashamed and embarrassed to share the truth. I kept it a secret for as long as I could, but the physical effects are becoming harder to hide.” She explained that her declining health has left her unable to work, adding significant financial strain to her already difficult situation.
On September 18, Erika received the heartbreaking news that she had just three months left to live. In an update on her GoFundMe page, she wrote, “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the best news. I’ve decided to discontinue treatments since they are no longer effective. I have three months left — three months to spend with my babies and loved ones, and to make the most of the time I have remaining.”
Her immediate focus is now on ensuring her children are cared for after she’s gone. “I’m faced with the incredibly difficult task of planning my own funeral,” she shared. “Since I haven’t been able to work for months, I have no savings or life insurance for this situation. I need to raise about $5,000 to cover the funeral costs and leave something behind for my babies.”
Thanks to an outpouring of support, Erika’s initial goal of $5,000 (£3,700) has been far exceeded, with over $750,000 (£560,000) raised. Erika plans to use the additional funds to set up a trust for her children’s future.