Search icon

News

21st Sep 2017

Baby whose mum turned down cancer treatment to give birth passes away

Absolutely heartbreaking.

Keeley Ryan

The daughter of a mum who turned down cancer treatment in order to give birth has passed away two weeks after her mum.

Life Lynn DeKleyn died on Wednesday evening at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, according to People.

The little girl was born 24 weeks and five days premature on September 6 and her mum Carrie tragically passed away just days later.

The 37 year old decided to refuse cancer treatment so she could give birth to Life.

The DeKlyen family shared the tragic news on social media on Thursday.

Life’s aunt Sonya DeKleyn Nelson told how “Carrie is now rocking her baby girl” as she posted the news on the Cure 4 Carrie Facebook page.

She wrote:

“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.”

Nick DeKlyen, Carrie’s husband of 17 years, previously told People how his wife made the choice to refuse the trial and chemotherapy treatments to preserve the life of their unborn child.

He added:

“The doctor said if you don’t terminate this baby, Carrie, you will die.

“But it was Carrie’s decision and I said, ‘What do you want to do?’ She said, ‘We’re keeping it.’”

Nick has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the financial costs after he quit his job to care for his wife and their children.

“Her time is drawing near, but I know I’ll see her again, not in this life, but after my time is up.

“She made the decision to give Life a chance at life.”

Featured image via Facebook/Cure 4 Carrie