Morgan Aubrey Hughes, a 23-year-old Utah resident, tragically passed away on December 28th at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo due to a heart condition. Her death occurred just days after Christmas and a little over a week after giving birth to twins, Hudson Samuel Hughes and Georgia Elise Hughes, on December 19th with her husband, Samuel Craig Hughes, also 23. The couple had married in 2023.
“It just doesn’t feel real,” Samuel shared with KSL-TV 5 in a joint interview with his late wife’s siblings. He described Morgan as an amazing wife and daughter, emphasizing her profound love for her family and her faith in Jesus Christ. The family expressed their commitment to honoring her memory through their faith and finding hope in the belief of an afterlife.
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In a separate interview with NBC News, Morgan’s father, Brian Hodson, revealed that his daughter’s delivery was initially “extremely smooth.” However, days later, Morgan began experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and fainting. She returned to the hospital where she received the diagnosis of postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as peripartum cardiomyopathy.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, PPCM is a rare condition affecting women in the final month of pregnancy or up to five months postpartum, without any other known cause. This devastating diagnosis was completely unexpected by the family.
The American Heart Association notes that PPCM can be difficult to detect as its symptoms, like shortness of breath and swelling in the extremities, can often mimic common pregnancy symptoms.
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Hodson shared that becoming a mother was a lifelong dream for Morgan. She was known for her love of babies and was affectionately called the “baby whisperer.” He emphasized that motherhood was her greatest aspiration and that she would have cherished her twins immensely. A GoFundMe account organized by the Lone Peak Fire Association, where Hodson serves as captain, described Morgan as a kind and loving soul whose greatest joy was becoming a mother. The funds raised will support the family following her loss.
The prematurely born twins remain in the NICU at Utah Valley Hospital but are expected to return home later this month. Samuel visits them twice daily, finding solace in their presence and believing that Morgan is watching over them. Caring for his newborn children has become a source of strength and healing for Samuel during this difficult time.
