When mother-of-five Carrie DeKlyen started waking up with bad headaches in March, she thought she may be experiencing the symptoms of migraines. But as the pain intensified and the pounding in her head induced vomiting, she thought she should probably get the condition checked out.
To her and her husband Nick’s shock, Carrie’s first brain scan revealed their worst nightmare: cancer.
Initially, doctors thought the mass in her brain was a treatable form of lymphoma, but a later pathology exam offered much more foreboding news. Carrie had an aggressive form of cancer called glioblastoma.
They warned the 37-year-old Michigan mom that she’d be lucky to live five years at best.
Carrie had the tumor surgically removed shortly after, but the following month threw yet another sharp curveball at the DeKlyens. Not only was the tumor back, but she was two months pregnant with their sixth child.
The two options she was given led this brave mother to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Cure 4 Carrie
She had the choice to undergo chemotherapy to extend her life at the cost of ending her pregnancy, or go through with the pregnancy knowing she would die before ever meeting her baby.
For the DeKlyens, who cling tightly to their Christian faith, choosing the latter was a no-brainer.
“That’s what she wanted,” said Nick, adding that “We love the Lord. We’re pro-life. We believe that God gave us this baby.”
After a second removal, the brain mass came back larger than ever in June. It was officially inoperable, and all doctors could do was remove fluid around Carrie’s brain to alleviate the pain.
In mid-July, violent convulsions and excruciating pain landed Carrie in the University of Michigan hospital. She had suffered a stroke at 19 weeks pregnant.
That was the last moment Nick ever saw his wife conscious.
The hospital informed him that Carrie would not wake up again, and if she did, her memory would be gone. However, they’d still do all they could to keep her baby healthy and growing. Though it meant having his wife and unborn child on a breathing machine and feeding tube for weeks, Nick knew God was taking care of the little miracle growing inside Carrie.
But the 22-week mark revealed devastating news, as their 378-gram baby was far too small to survive outside the womb, and she simply wasn’t gaining weight.
Thankfully, two weeks later, their little girl was big enough to make it through the delivery, but there was now a much bigger problem—she wasn’t moving.
The heartbroken husband was left with yet another dire decision on his hands.
Cure 4 Carrie
He could hold off and pray that the baby started to move, but risk losing her in an hour’s time, or authorize a C-section.
He quickly chose the only option that meant LIFE.
And after his precious little angel was born at 5:30 pm that evening, weighing in at 1 pound 4 ounces, “Life” was exactly the name he chose for her.
Nick said he and Carrie had decided on the name ‘Life Lynn’ before his wife’s debilitating stroke.
“I sat by her the whole time. I kind of held her hand and kissing her, telling her that she did good,” said Nick.
“It was kind of bittersweet because my wife’s not awake. She’s going to pass away,” he added. “After that, I went to the surgeon and said my wife had enough. She’s gone through so much pain these last five months.”
The last five words he recalls uttering to her will be seared in his memory forever: “I’ll see you in heaven.”
While it hurt him indescribably to let her go, he knew it was the right decision.
“She gave up her life for the baby,” said Nick. “I just want people to know that my wife loved the Lord. She loved her kids. She put anybody in front of her needs.… She put my daughter above herself.”
Now, just two short weeks after his miracle baby’s delivery, the single father of six is forced to cope with yet another unbearable loss.
Life Lynn has also passed away.
Cure 4 Carrie
Sonya Nelson broke the news of her niece’s death on the family’s Cure 4 Carrie Facebook page yesterday, all while still professing the faithfulness of God:
“It is with great sadness and a absolutely broken heart that I tell you Life Lynn passed away last night. Carrie is now rocking her baby girl. I have no explanation of why this happened, but I do know Jesus loves us and someday we will know why. The grief we feel is almost unbearable, please be praying for our family.”
In the midst of this family’s unthinkable pain, I am in awe of their unwavering trust in Jesus. In moments far less traumatic, I have been inclined to question His goodness and faithfulness, thrashing out for the answer to the ‘why’ that I know I don’t deserve…but in this still, they declare God is GOOD.
She closed her post with a powerful scripture verse reminding us that where our own human strength may fail, God’s will prevail:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” ~Psalms 73:26
Cure 4 Carrie
Instead of holding a traditional funeral, the family plans to bury Life Lynn with the mother who so selflessly gave her life for her.
“Maybe Carrie needed her,” said Nelson. “It is comforting for us to know that she went home to be with Carrie.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Nick and his five children. Please consider joining us in supporting the DeKlyens both prayerfully and financially during this unimaginable time.
