The Tragic Story Behind Terah Coy Danyel Barker's Unexpected Death at 25

In late 2020, 25-year-old Terah Coy Danyel Barker passed away unexpectedly on her birthday. While the COVID-19 pandemic was raging at the time, COVID was not actually the cause of her death. To share more details about what really happened, Terah's sister posted a video on TikTok answering questions from curious viewers. Through this video, a far more complicated story emerged that provides crucial context around Terah's young passing.

Terah Falls Ill with COVID-19

Terah and Her Sister Contract the Virus

As her sister explains in the video, in late November/early December 2020 both she and Terah had contracted COVID-19. While the sister was resting at her own home to recover, Terah was staying at her apartment. They kept in close contact through texting to check on one another. However, Terah's condition seemed to be worsening as she mentioned she couldn't keep any food or liquids down due to illness.

The Sister Brings Supplies

Concerned for her sister, the next day the sister brought over some crackers and ginger ale hoping to help Terah feel better. When they arrived, Terah's four-year-old daughter let them inside. The sister found Terah taking a bath and provided the snacks, reassuring her to call if she needed anything before leaving to rest.

Terah's Condition Worsens

Terah's Condition Worsens Over Text

Over the next couple days, the sister continued texting Terah to check on her recovery. However, the responses were becoming slower and more infrequent which caused worry. On December 1st, the sister wanted to go back and check on Terah in person but it was late so she let her rest more. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a tragic decision without knowing how dire the real situation was.

The Devastating Discovery

Emergency Services Are Called

The next day, December 2nd, which was also Terah's 25th birthday, the sister and her husband returned to the apartment. This time when her niece let them inside, she informed them that her mother had been sleeping all day. Rushing to Terah's bedroom, the sister tried unsuccessfully to wake her. Realizing something was seriously wrong, they immediately called the police.

Terah Had Passed Away

Emergency services soon arrived and confirmed the heartbreaking news - Terah had passed away. While COVID had made her very ill, that was not the actual cause of death. After an autopsy was performed, it was discovered that Terah had been living with an undiagnosed autoimmune disease called Addison's disease.

Spreading Awareness of Addison's Disease

Creating a Memorial for Terah

In the year since Terah's passing on December 2, 2020, her sister has worked to honor her memory. This includes setting up a memorial shrine with photos of Terah. Most importantly though, she wants Terah's story to help spread more awareness of Addison's disease since it can often go undiagnosed. If caught earlier, Terah's life potentially could have been saved with proper treatment.

Warning Others of the Signs

By sharing this heartbreaking tale, the sister hopes others may learn the warning signs of this rare autoimmune disorder and get medical help sooner rather than later. While COVID-19 certainly did not help Terah's situation, it was truly the unknown Addison's disease that ultimately caused her untimely death at just 25 years old on her birthday. Her memory will live on through increased awareness and education thanks to her loving family.