The sudden and heartbreaking loss of Morgan Hughes, a vibrant 23-year-old Utah mom, has left her family, friends, and community reeling. Just nine days after giving birth to twins, Morgan passed away unexpectedly on December 28, leaving behind her newborn son and daughter, a grieving husband, and an outpouring of love and support from those who knew her.
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Morgan’s husband, Sam Hughes, shared his deep admiration for his late wife, describing her as a beacon of love and faith. “Morgan was amazing,” Sam said. “She was the best wife, the best daughter, and nobody loved more than she did. She loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, and we will do our best to honor her through our faith. The only choice is to believe in an afterlife; otherwise, there is no hope.”
Outside the Cedar Hills home of Morgan’s parents, the neighborhood has come together to express their condolences. Balloons, ribbons, and paper hearts adorn the area, symbolizing the collective grief and support of the community. Morgan’s older brother, Justin Hodson, expressed gratitude for the kindness they have received. “We have just been so grateful for the love and support and outreach from the community,” he said. “The church, the schools, family, friends — everybody doing everything they can to help.”
The Lone Peak Fire Department, where Morgan’s father serves as a fire captain, has also rallied around the family. “The fire community has been a brotherhood, not just here but across the nation,” Justin added.
For the Hughes and Hodson families, the past months had been a time of joy and anticipation. Morgan and Sam’s announcement of their twin pregnancy was met with excitement, especially when they revealed they were expecting both a boy and a girl. “Anybody who knows Morgan knows that all she ever wanted in her life was to be a mom,” Justin shared.
On December 19, the twins, Hudson and Georgia, were born seven minutes apart. Despite arriving prematurely and requiring care in the NICU, their arrival was a moment of happiness for the family. “It was probably the happiest moment in our family because we just had two babies. They’re my parents’ first grandbabies,” said Kaden Hodson, Morgan’s younger brother. “(Morgan) was pretty proud and excited.”
IMAGE Via Source
Initially, Morgan appeared healthy following the delivery. However, her condition took a sudden turn. Just days after returning home, she began to feel unwell. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Morgan passed away the next day due to a rare form of heart failure known as cardiomyopathy.
“The official cause of death was a cardiomyopathy,” Justin explained. “Doctors said it was extremely rare, and with her being a young, healthy individual, a lot of the symptoms were completely masked. To go from pure happiness to losing her is really tough. It’s all just a nightmare that we are waiting to wake up from.”
For Morgan’s younger brother Kaden, the loss is deeply personal. “It’s hard because not only did I lose my sister, but I feel like I lost my best friend,” he said.
Despite their grief, the family is finding strength through faith and the progress of Hudson and Georgia. “Those babies are improving so quickly. It’s almost like they know they need to get out of the hospital,” Justin said. “They took Georgia off oxygen yesterday. They are both feeding really well.”
Sam visits his twins twice a day, finding solace in their presence. “The twins are where I feel my peace that she’s there,” he said. “She is helping the twins.”
As the family prepares to lay Morgan to rest, they are holding onto the love and memories she left behind. Her funeral is scheduled for Friday, and two GoFundMe accounts have been established to support Sam and the twins. One account was created by the family, while the other was set up by the Lone Peak Fire Association.
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