What We Know About Erika Kirk's Mom's Hush-Hush Health Issues

In the wake of the tragic passing of her husband Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk seemingly kicked off a media campaign to continue the mission of what he started. Though Erika lived a storied life before taking over as CEO of Turning Point USA, there's been a common denominator in her story — her mother. In a December 2025 appearance on "Fox and Friends," Erika mentioned how much her mom, Lori Frantzve, loved Charlie. She also dropped the mysterious lore that Frantzve struggles with "battling a very rare illness." This was once again put on full display when Erika made a February 17, 2026, Instagram post with a video showing the frailty yet strength of her mother.

The caption to the post starts, " ... the strongest woman I know," while the accompanying videos show Frantzve in a wheelchair being pushed by Erika's children. Much of the post is dedicated to Erika's love and admiration for her mother, claiming that, "You poured everything into me as I was growing up." Erika continued, "And now, in this sacred turn of seasons, we pour everything into you."

Though there are plenty of tragic details in Frantzve's life, it seems that she can continue to rely on her daughter and grandchildren for support as she navigates her secret ailment. For her part, Erika is still keeping quiet on what exactly is making her mother sick, but from this post and others in the past, it's clear that the two share a deep bond.

When it comes to the parents of Erika Kirk, it's clear that she has love for her mother Lori Frantzve. In an April 2022 Instagram post, Kirk gushes about how much she loves her mother, writing, "I love the way you love others." She mentions how lucky she is to see the "special bond" Frantzve and Charlie Kirk shared, as well as acknowledging that, "One of the greatest gifts of my life is to be your daughter, now and forever through every high, and every low." This isn't the only time Erika has publicly praised her mother.

Though Erika might be unrecognizable in throwback photos from when she was Miss Arizona USA, she has remained consistent in lifting up Frantzve. In a 2012 interview with Arizona Foothills Magazine from after her pageant win, Erika divulged that, "My mom used to take us to soup kitchens and constantly said we needed to share our blessings with others." It seems that this sentiment has remained with Erika as she acknowledged in her February 2026 Instagram post the importance of her and her children helping Frantzve as she struggles with her illness. Near the end of her post, Erika reminded Frantzve that, "I love you, Mama. Today and always. We've got you."