Football is no doubt a big part of the Carr family. Most fans know Derek Carr for his NFL career, but he and his family faced a terrifying battle when his niece, Grace Carr, struggled with serious medical issues. Now, years later, Derek, once again, faces something far more personal than anything he has ever dealt with on the field – a medical issue within the family.
Derek Carr leaned heavily on his faith, family, and the support of the medical team at Valley Children’s Hospital. The successful treatment and recovery of his son inspired Carr to give back. In May 2023, Derek and his brother David, a former NFL quarterback, donated $250,000 to Valley Children’s Healthcare to support community health initiatives in California. This act shows the strong family bonds and values that the Carr family holds dear.
Next to his contribution, on December 21, 2024, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr and his wife, Heather, hosted nine families for a special holiday meal at the Salvation Army. The evening was filled with warmth, good food, and festive cheer. But the real surprise came at the end of the night when Derek and Heather surprised each family with a generous gift of $5,000.
The Carr family is open about their medical struggles. They do it for the community. Derek’s ongoing support for children’s health initiatives, including his involvement with Valley Children’s Hospital, has been widely recognized. In December 2024, Carr and teammate Taysom Hill participated in an event with patients and families from Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center, further demonstrating their commitment to community engagement. These efforts have strengthened Carr’s bond with fans and highlighted the importance of using one’s platform for positive impact.
Carr is great at balancing his challenges with professional responsibilities. Despite facing injuries during the 2024 season, including a hand fracture and time in concussion protocol, Derek Carr stays dedicated to his team, family, and community. Pushing through adversity shows the mental toughness elite athletes need. It’s not just about touchdowns; it’s about resilience and leadership. His off-field experiences only make him stronger on it.
Medical struggles in Darek Carr’s family
Derek Carr‘s support comes from his own experience. Derek Carr’s first son, Dallas, was born with intestinal malrotation. It’s a life-threatening condition with the intestines. It required immediate surgery and spent over three weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Valley Children’s Hospital. This experience deeply impacted Derek Carr and his family.
Fast forward to yesterday’s night, Gracie Carr was struggling with blood sugar levels before her first-ever dance competition. Her mother, who runs the Instagram account @raising4diabetics, shared the emotional journey, writing, “The night before Gracie’s first dance competition she was low all night I was so worried how that would affect her for dance but she was fine! (PTL).”
Gracie refused exhaustion and stress to let it stop her. She went through rehearsals, her energy had sheer determination. But just as she was about to step onto the stage for one of her performances, her diabetes entered the mix. “Right before one of her performances she was low again!,” her mother said. In that crucial moment, Gracie grabbed a juice box, chugged it down, and ran onto the stage. “She chugged a juice box and ran out on stage! ”
While Derek takes hits on Sundays, some of his family members have been facing a different kind of fight, i.e. type 1 Diabetes. Austin was the first one to have it. The family quickly learned how to manage insulin, check blood sugar, and make constant adjustments. Then Cooper joined in, followed by Grace, who joined the fight next. Years later, they welcomed little Piper, but he has it too. Well, Tyler doesn’t have diabetes, but he stands strong for his siblings as a part of the team.
For many, living with diabetes could be a discouraging, exhausting battle, especially in high-stakes situations like a competition. But not for Gracie. Her mother proudly shared, “Living with diabetes could easily discourage her with so much added stress but Grace rolls with it and has the best outlook on life. ” Gracie’s story reflects her resilience, strength, and passion. Diabetes usually dictates the limits of a person’s energy and endurance, but Gracie is keeping control, not letting the disease impact her.
The post Struggling With Disease for Years, Derek Carr’s Family Receives Support From Saints QB appeared first on EssentiallySports.