Carrie DeKlyen, who refused Cancer treatment to deliver sixth child, dies At 37

September 12, 2017 1:30 PM

On September 6, at 24 weeks and 5 days pregnant, she gave birth to Life Lynn DeKlyen. After the birth, Carrie was removed from life support.

A mother of six, who refused cancer treatment in order to save her unborn child, passed away on Saturday, September 9.

Carrie DeKlyen was pregnant with her sixth child in April of this year when doctors diagnosed her with glioblastom, a rapidly growing and aggressive malignant tumor that can affect the brain and spinal cord.

She enrolled in a clinical trial at the University of Michigan, where she was told she would need to terminate the pregnancy in order to get the necessary treatment. Carrie decided not to do so and moved forward with her pregnancy to save her child.

On September 6, at 24 weeks and 5 days pregnant, she gave birth to Life Lynn DeKlyen. After the birth, Carrie was removed from life support.

“We gave up all of Carrie’s treatment to give Life a chance to survive,” her husband Nick DeKlyen told People Magazine just before she passed away.

He has five other kids with Carrie — Elijah, 18, Isaiah, 16, Nevaeh, 11, Leila, 4, and Jez, 2. “Her birth meant that this wasn’t all for nothing, my wife will pass on and my baby will live. She wanted this, but it’s tough — I’m trying to be happy for the baby but the love of my life is hours away from dying, it hurts so bad.”

Nick shared the sad news with the Associated Press, telling them that Carrie was surrounded by family when she passed, and one of the last things he told her was, “I’ll see you in Heaven.”

Life, who was born premature, is doing well according to her father, who plans to tell his daughter about her brave mommy once she is old enough.

“I’ll tell her that God gave her the gift of life with an awesome plan in mind and we’re not sure why mommy had to be sick and pass away to do so, but it’s all a special plan and we must trust it,” he told People through tears. “I’ll tell her that mommy did this because she loves you and she is in Heaven and we’ll see her again — soon, soon.”