Support for Young Udouj Family
In the course of just 3 months this young family has faced a series of overwhelming challenges. From an emergency C-section birth of their preemie daughter, who then had to be airlifted to an out-of-state hospital, to the destruction of their new home due to a freak wind and snow storm that uprooted the tree in their front yard. These kids are barely getting started and are now without a home. Please read their story below to learn more. We'll be adding daily updates as we learn more information. Thank you!
Baby Olivia was born on July 11, 2020 in Rock Springs Wyoming. She was a preemie to first time parents, my niece Hannah and her husband Frank. Arriving by emergency C-section, little Olivia Grace was unable to breathe on her own. As Rock Springs is a small town with limited medical capabilities, Olivia was soon airlifted to a more well equipped hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Needless to say my niece was grief stricken having never held her newborn.
" Bye Bye my sweet angel....I cannot wait to hold her...I just cannot believe I didn't get to hold my baby. Heartbroken" were just a few of the messages our family received. 
New Daddy Frank said goodbye to his wife and new mom, along with days at a new job, to be with their daughter in Salt Lake.
After proving she could travel by refusing all pain medications, Hannah left the hospital the next day to make the trek to Salt Lake and be reunited with her husband and their new baby.
Little Olivia, or Livie as she became known, was given the green light to go home after 11 days in the NICU. Though still on oxygen Hannah and her Mom packed up the little baby bundle (6lbs 0.3 oz) and made the drive back to Rock Springs.
The new family fell into a rhythm and life seemed to be moving along with all the expected changes a new baby brings. Olivia came off the additional oxygen 3 1/2 weeks after being home - she and the family Shepherd had became fast friends.
Then at 4am on September 8, just 7 weeks later, a winter storm with 80 mph winds descended upon Green River uprooting the pine tree in front of Hannah and Franks home. Their roof was crushed from the kitchen through the hallway down to Olivia's nursery. 
Due to the severity of the storm, I-80 was closed so when the local Fire Department responded to their call, Hannah and Frank were told to light a fire in the fireplace to stay warm as all the hotels and shelters were full with truckers and travelers, temperatures were in the 30's.
My sister and her husband went to go pick up the family to bring them back to their home. That 20 minute drive took well over 2 hours due to road conditions and accidents. Hannah, Frank and Olivia are now staying in my sisters guest bedroom for the foreseeable future. Their insurance tells them it's at least 2 months before they can move back home.
In total this new family is looking at a minimum of $75,000 in expenses incurred over the last 3 months. The bills still due at the hospital are around $20,000 of that total. ,
We recognize these are difficult times for everyone, we are all dealing with unfamiliar territory. Our wish is to assist this young family in getting out from at least some of the burden of this debt. If you can, we humbly ask for your donation.
Thank you,
Elyse & Heidi
