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Jan 23, 2009 6:27 pm US/Central
With Help From Strangers, Dad Raises Child Alone
(WCCO)
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After the caesarean section, Liz had to stay in bed for 24 hours. She only saw her daughter once.
Logelin Family
A Minnesota couple's tragedy has a surprising and uplifting outcome.
Matt Logelin 's wife Liz died just 27 hours after giving birth to their premature daughter. The story was featured in the recent People magazine.
A growing virtual support group sprang up after Liz died and it's helping Matt raise his daughter.
"They met at a gas station," said Liz's mother Candee Goodman.
"Liz picked him up," said Liz's father Tom Goodman.
The high school sweethearts were together from then on. They got married after college and moved to California.
"And she got pregnant," added Candee.
It was a difficult pregnancy. Liz was on bed rest for weeks until she gave birth to Madeline 10 months ago.
After the caesarean section, Liz had to stay in bed for 24 hours. She only saw her daughter once.
"She was going to go see the baby the next day," recalled Tom.
On the way, she collapsed and died from a blood clot in her lung before she ever held Madeline.
"It was complete and utter devastation to me. I didn't think there was any possible way I could go on without her," said Logelin.
He had no choice. He had to raise their child.
"I thought, 'You know what? I'm going to show every single person on this earth that not only a father can do, but I can do it,'" said Logelin.
But he had no clue how to care for a child. He started a blog to keep connected to his Minnesota in-laws, but his tragic story drew strangers giving him childcare tips.
"It's a very incredible tool for a parent to have," said Logelin.
Cyber-supporters send him toys, diapers, clothes. They also watch Logelin and Maddy grow together.
"It's incredible," he said. "Having all these people, these people who've just been incredibly kind."
Liz's parents know their daughter is grateful.
"They all feel for him, they feel his loss, they care about him," said Tom. "It's unbelievable the community that's grown up and everyone's rooting for Matt."
Logelin's website gets more than 50,000 hits a day. He's also started
a foundation in Liz's name to help widows and widowers with children.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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