10 September, 2017
Carrie DeKlyen, the MI mother of six who sacrificed cancer treatment that would have saved her life but ended her pregnancy, died Saturday - three days after delivering her newborn baby.
The last words Nick DeKlyen said to his wife were, "I'll see you in Heaven".
It was after Carrie enrolled in a clinical trial at the University of MI in Ann Arbor when doctors informed her she would need to "terminate her pregnancy" in order to receive cancer treatment, Carrie's sister-in-law, Sonya Nelson, told PEOPLE Friday.
Carrie DeKlyenCourtesy DeKlyen Family She gave birth via cesarean section to Life Lynn DeKlyen on September 6 at 24 weeks and 5 days. She had been taken off of life support shortly after doctors delivered Life Lynn DeKlyen on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at University Hospital in Ann Arbor.
A September 6, 2017 courtesy photo of Life Lynn DeKlyen, who was delivered via cesarean section at 24.5 weeks.
"She's going to be fine", he said. "She's going to be here for four or five months, but we expect her to be a healthy baby". Doctors said DeKlyen could remain in the clinical trial, but she would need to terminate the pregnancy.
The couple, who are from the western MI city of Wyoming, have five other kids who range in age from 2 to 18 years old, and Nick DeKlyen said the family is strong in its Christian faith.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help ease the family's financial burden as DeKlyen's husband, Nick, has stepped away from his job to be by his wife's side during radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
"My wife loves the Lord and she loves her children more than anything", he said on Friday (Saturday NZT).
Since Carrie DeKlyen's cancer diagnosis in April, the family has been sharing updates about her and her pregnancy on the Facebook page Cure 4 Carrie.
"It's painful", he added.
"I want people to know she gave of herself for everybody".
DeKlyen, who was 37 and a resident of Wyoming, Michigan, gained national attention for her decision to attempt to have the child while battling Glioblastoma multiforme.
