By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-01 17:18:30 | Updated at 2025-01-06 12:19:05
4 days ago
A Utah family has been left grieving 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 that he is overcome with grief after his wife, Morgan Hughes, 23, tragically died on Saturday - just nine days after delivering her two children, a baby boy and girl.
The first-time mother was told by doctors and nurses that she had a 'perfect birth,' however, in the days following her delivery, she suffered from fainting spells, prompting a hospital visit.
On December 28, doctors found high levels of white blood cells - a possible sign of leukemia - however, the young mother passed later that day of cardiomyopathy - a chronic condition that affects the heart muscle, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.
Though, she displayed no symptoms of the life-threatening condition.
'The official cause of death was a Cardiomyopathy, which doctors said was extremely rare and with her being a young healthy individual a lot of the symptoms were completely masked,' her brother, Justin Hodson, told KSLTV.
'To go from just pure happiness to losing her is really tough. It's all just a nightmare that we are waiting for us to wake up from.'
Her mourning 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 told 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 delivering her two children, a baby boy and girl
The first time mother was told by doctors and nurses that she had a 'perfect birth,' however, in the days following her delivery, Morgan suffered from fainting spells, prompting a hospital visit. Pictured: Morgan and Sam holding their twin babies, Hudson and Georgia
Justin said the babies were small and the baby girl, Georgia, needed some help breathing, but overall, the babies and mom were healthy.
'She couldn't wait to get into the NICU to see those babies,' he said.
The family was delighted 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 amazing. She was the best wife, the best daughter and nobody loved more than she did. The only choice is to believe in an afterlife otherwise there is no hope.'
'It's hard because not only did I lose my sister, but I feel like I lost my best friend,' Morgan's younger brother, Kaden Hodson, said.
Morgan had always dreamt 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 mom, Morgan's pregnancy came with a happy surprise - twins. A shock, but a result that seemed to be destiny for the longing soon-to-be mother.
'Everyone was like, "That's Morgan. Out of everyone, she deserves to have twins,"' Justin said of his sister. 'She was just proud and happy. Anybody who knows Morgan knows that all she ever wanted in her life was to be a mom.'
Morgan had always dreamt 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 mom, Morgan's pregnancy came with a happy surprise - twins! Pictured: Morgan and Sam at their gender reveal celebration
Almost immediately the family was delighted 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 near. 'The twins are where I feel my peace that she's there. She is helping the twins,' he said. Pictured: The first-time parents welcome their children to the world
Following Morgan's unanticipated death, the neighborhood she grew up in, Cedar Hills, is now adorned with blue ribbons, yellow balloons and flowers.
Home-cooked meals and community-wide support have been pouring into her parents' home and messages from people who knew Morgan are coming in from all over the country.
'It's really cool to see how many people Morgan touched,' Kaden said. 'And [how they] felt special because Morgan made them feel special.'
'We have just been so grateful for the love and support and outreach from the community,' Justin said. 'The community, the church, the schools, family, friends, everybody doing everything they can to help.'
Now, Morgan's beloved babies are continuing to improve in the hospital, with baby Georgia slowly weaning off oxygen support.
'Those babies are improving so quickly. It's almost like they know they need to get out of the hospital. They took Georgia off oxygen yesterday. They are 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 near.
'The twins are where I feel my peace that she's there. She is helping 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 family, while the other by the Lone Peak Fire Association, where Morgan's father is a fire captain.
