Like any first-time dad, Matt Logelin was overwhelmed with joy the first time he laid eyes on his newborn daughter, Madeline.
He and his wife, Liz, were high school sweethearts, and had been together for eight years before they tied the knot in 2005.
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With a brand new home, a wonderful marriage and a beautiful baby girl on the way, Matt could not have been more proud to become a father.
Liz had a difficult pregnancy with Maddy. After being put on bed rest, the soon-to-be mommy created a blog to chronicle her journey and keep friends and family updated on her health.
After five weeks of bed rest, baby Maddy was delivered via emergency C-section seven weeks early.
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Liz only got to see Maddy for a brief minute, then was kept in bed for an additional 24 hours to recover from the surgery. Matt bounced between his two leading ladies—his wife in her hospital room, and his daughter in the NICU—before finally getting to escort Liz to Maddy.
But as the new mom stood to make her way to the NICU, she collapsed on the floor.
Just 27 hours after giving birth, Liz died of a massive pulmonary embolism.
In just one day, Matt’s entire world turned upside down. He became a father and a widower in just a matter of hours.
Matt says he didn’t know how to live without Liz. Not to mention how to be a father to a brand new baby and do it all on his own.
After bringing Maddy home, Matt started trying to “re-build.” He had the joy of a new life, but the immense pain, sorrow and loneliness of a husband who’d lost his wife.