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.”
Though the 39-year-old father is now left with six kids to raise as a single parent and no form of income, he vows to fight the good fight in his courageous wife’s honor, who loved the Lord with all her heart:
“She gave up her life for the baby. 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.”
The Cure 4 Carrie Facebook page shared the following Bible verse to commemorate her great act of sacrifice:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
As for Nick, he’s not sure what his next steps are outside of getting his daughter home, but he has peace in knowing his future is in his Father’s hands.
“My wife’s gone. I have six kids, three are under the age of 5,” he said. “I’m just going to focus on my daughter right now, getting her home…. As far as what I’m going to do after that, I can’t tell you.”
Cure 4 Carrie
A GoFundMe page that has been set up to support Nick and his children has already raised more than $133,000. If you’d like to help this single father, click here to donate.
Our prayers are with the DeKlyens as they navigate this difficult time. Praise God for selfless mamas like Carrie who lay down their own lives for the sake of their children.
