Horrific tragedy strikes Utah family days after mother, 23, gave birth to twins
A Utah family has been left grief-stricken after the unexpected loss of a 23-year-old mother just days after she gave birth to twins, fulfilling her lifelong dream of having children.
Widower Sam Hughes, 23, revealed he is overcome with grief after his wife, Morgan Hughes, 23, tragically died on Saturday – just nine days after having her two children, a boy and a girl.
The doctors and nurses told the new mother she had a “perfect delivery,” but in the days after her delivery she began experiencing fainting spells, prompting a hospital visit.
On December 28, doctors detected high white blood cell counts – a possible sign of leukemia – but the young mother died later that day from cardiomyopathy – a chronic condition that affects the heart muscle, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.
However, she showed no symptoms of the life-threatening condition.
“The official cause of death was a cardiomyopathy, which doctors said was extremely rare and because she was a young, healthy individual, many of the symptoms were completely masked,” her brother Justin Hodson said. KSLTV.
‘It’s very difficult to go from pure happiness to losing her. It’s all just a nightmare we’re waiting to wake up from.”
Her grieving family says her death happened so quickly and unexpectedly after her flawless delivery.
“All the doctors and nurses said she was just a Rockstar. A perfect birth,” Morgan’s brother Justin said ABC4 News.
Widower Sam Hughes (left), 23, is overcome with grief after his wife, Morgan Hughes (right), 23, tragically died on Saturday, just nine days after giving birth to her two children, a boy and a girl
The first time mum was told by doctors and nurses that she had had a ‘perfect birth’, however, Morgan suffered fainting spells in the days after her delivery, prompting a hospital visit. Pictured: Morgan and Sam holding their twin brothers, Hudson and Georgia
Justin said the babies were small and the girl, Georgia, needed some help breathing, but overall the babies and mother were healthy.
“She couldn’t wait to get to the NICU to see those babies,” he said.
The family was thrilled to see that baby Hudson looked like a mini Sam and baby Georgia looked like a mini Morgan.
“It just doesn’t feel real,” her husband Sam said.
‘Morgan was great. She was the best wife, the best daughter and no one loved her more than her. The only choice is to believe in an afterlife, otherwise there is no hope.”
“It’s hard because not only have I lost my sister, but I feel like I’ve lost my best friend,” said Morgan’s younger brother, Kaden Hodson.
Morgan had always dreamed of being a mother, her brother, Justin said, remembering his sister always taking care of babies as a little girl.
And when it was finally her time to finally become a mother, Morgan’s pregnancy came with a happy surprise: twins. A shock, but a result that seemed to be the fate of the longing mother-to-be.
“Everyone said, ‘That’s Morgan. Out of everyone, she deserves to have twins,'” Justin said of his sister. ‘She was just proud and happy. Anyone who knows Morgan knows that all she ever wanted in life was to be a mother.”
Morgan had always dreamed of being a mother, Justin said, remembering his sister always taking care of babies as a little girl. When it was finally her time to finally become a mother, Morgan’s pregnancy came with a happy surprise: twins! Pictured: Morgan and Sam at their gender reveal party
Almost immediately, the family was thrilled to see that baby Hudson looked like a mini Sam and baby Georgia looked like a mini Morgan, Kaden said.
Sam says he visits and cares for his twins twice a day, and that’s where he feels his wife close. ‘With the twins I feel the peace that she is there. She helps the twins,” he said. In the photo: the new parents welcome their children to the world
After Morgan’s unexpected death, the neighborhood she grew up in, Cedar Hills, is now decorated with blue ribbons, yellow balloons and flowers.
Home-cooked meals and support from across the community are pouring into her parents’ home, and messages from people who knew Morgan are pouring in from across the country.
“It’s really cool to see how many people Morgan has touched,” Kaden said. ‘And [how they] felt special because Morgan made them feel special.”
“We have been so grateful for the love, support and help from the community,” Justin said. “The community, the church, the schools, family, friends, everyone is doing everything they can to help.”
Now Morgan’s beloved babies are doing better in hospital, with baby Georgia slowly being weaned off oxygen support.
‘Those babies progress so quickly. It’s almost like they know they have to leave the hospital. They took Georgia off oxygen yesterday. They’re both feeding really well,” Justin said.
Morgan’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, January 3
Sam says he visits and cares for his twins twice a day, and that’s where he feels his wife close.
‘With the twins I feel the peace that she is there. She helps the twins,” he said.
Morgan’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, January 3.
Two GoFundMe accounts have since been set up to help Sam and his babies.
One was set up by the familywhile the others by the Lone Peak Fire Associationwhere Morgan’s father is a fire captain.