WYOMING, MI - Carrie DeKlyen, who gave birth to her sixth child while fighting terminal brain cancer, left a "legacy of love" for her family and friends.
She had a strong faith that buoyed her - and those close to her - in her final days.
"Either way, I get my healing," she told loved ones.
A celebration of her life was held Tuesday, Sept. 12, at Resurrection Life Church in Wyoming, where she was remembered as a loving mother, wife, daughter and friend who cooked dinner for neighbors, sang in the church choir, watched kids in the nursery and volunteered as a counselor.
She was also at peace.
She died Saturday, Sept. 9, at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, three days after her daughter, Life Lynn DeKlyen, was born.
Her story won national attention when she had the baby while suffering Glioblastorma multiforme, a lethal brain tumor. DeKlyen, 37, was taken off life-support after her baby was born at less than 25 weeks, weighing 1 pound, four ounces. It was the only way for the baby to survive.
She was diagnosed in April, and had the tumor removed at Mercy Health Saint Mary's Campus in Grand Rapids. She was accepted into a clinical trial at University Hospital shortly before she found out she was pregnant.
Carrie DeKlyen, of Wyoming, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor in April. gave birth to her sixth child at University Hospital in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Sept. 6. DeKlyen died Saturday morning, Sept. 9.
She would have had to terminate the pregnancy to stay in the clinical trial. She decided to save her baby.
She suffered a highly malignant form of cancer in which cells reproduce quickly, supported by a large network of blood vessels.
At the funeral, a friend, Amy, said DeKlyen left a "legacy of love."
"If you know her, you loved her," she said.
Her family shared many photos - both on posters in the church lobby, and on the screen inside the sanctuary - showing her with family, especially her children. In most, she was hugging someone.
She laughed a lot. She was relaxed in any situation. She could be a little chatty, too.
She would hope that her story would lead someone to God.
Even in pain, as she battled the terminal illness, she was more interested in the lives of family and friends, and gave them them comfort.
In one of her last text messages to her father, Bert Booker, she shared a photo of "Super Woman," with the caption: "I got this."
"She's got this," Pastor Pat Binish said. "Carrie, a mom, a soul mate, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Heaven's gain."
He prayed: "May the loving memories of Carrie continue to touch the lives of many."
Binish said many have asked on social media why God didn't heal her.
"Are you ready for the answer? I don't know. Our job as humans is to pray. God's job is to heal, end of story. We don't understand the bigger plan. We don't have the understanding. One day, we will."
Life Lynn is being treated at the neonatal intensive care unit at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
A GoFundMe page is set up to help DeKlyen's husband, Nick, who has been away from work while being with his wife and their children, Elijah, Isaiah, Nevaeh, Leila Mai and Jez.