TLC Star Deon Derrico Shares Sad Update About His Family

The Derricos are mourning the loss of a beloved family member. Deon Derrico’s nephew Amani Barkley has died. The star of TLC’s Doubling Down With the Derricos shared the sad news in a social media update over the weekend. 

Deon Derrico’s nephew Amani Barkley has died 

“​​My Family, friends, and fans….It is with great sadness that I #DEONDERRICO Announce the passing of my loving nephew Amani Barkley! Our family is devastated,” Deon wrote in the July 20 Instagram post. 

Amani appeared occasionally on Doubling Down With the Derricos. He was the son of Deon’s late brother, Christopher S. Turner, and Stacey Dickey. Deon, his wife Karen, and their 14 children met Amani for the first time two years ago. They confirmed their relationship via a DNA test, an event that was featured on the family’s reality series. 

“We met Amani, just two years ago as seen on @tlc’s Doubling Down With The DERRICOs, and you guys along with my family fell in love with him and in this short time we have built a bond with Amani, and merged our families forever!” Deon wrote. 

The ‘Doubling Down With the Derricos’ star has been documenting his nephew’s health struggles

In recent weeks, Deon’s Instagram has been dominated by updates about his nephew’s health struggles. Amani was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis at age 14, according to a GoFundMe created by Karen. He received a liver transplant at 21. But eventually, that new organ began to fail 

Amani received another liver transplant in early June 2024. That transplant was unsuccessful. He received a third transplant two weeks later. 

“Now, because of so much stress being on Amani’s body, there are other health challenges that he’s been facing that resulted from the myriad of issues,” the family shared in the GoFundMe appeal. 

In the end, those issues were too much for Amani to overcome. “There was nothing else they could do for him,” Deon said in a lengthy Instagram video posted on July 21. 

Deon says GG is taking Amani’s death ‘very hard’ 

In the video, Deon shared that he was struggling with the loss of a relative who’d only recently come into his life. 

“I can’t wrap my head around it, to be honest,” he said. 

Deon’s mother and Amani’s grandmother, Marian “GG” Derrico, was also taking the loss “very hard,” he said.   

The TLC star asked those who wanted to honor Amani to make donations to “The Deon Derrico and Marian Derrico Foundation.” 

“All proceeds will be used to help Other Families of Liver transplant patients and recipients, as well as Cancer patients and recipients,” Deon shared in his update announcing Amani’s death. 

Amani is survived by his mother, Stacey, his son Adonis, “and a complete host of other family and friends,” Deon added.

 “We thank you all for your love and prayers and please know, although Amani, has transitioned over to JESUS, your prayers were answered as GODs will was done,” he wrote. 

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