A heartbreaking tragedy occurred in Bellvue, Colorado, on Jan. 17 when Jill Schmucker went into labor with her third child. On their way to the hospital, Schmucker’s husband died in an unexplainable tragedy.
Yet her story shows the resiliency of human life because, with the help of her 6-year-old son, she was able to make it to a hospital and deliver her child.
9News of Colorado reports on that Wednesday morning, Schmucker was going into labor for the first time: her past two births had been induced. Once her older children got dressed, her husband, Tony Schmucker, 37, began driving the family to the hospital.
Very soon, the whole family was in danger after an unlikely and still unexplainable medical catastrophe. While he was driving, Tony Schmucker had either a seizure, brain stroke or aneurysm, according to the Daily Mail. The family’s SUV crashed and flipped into a ditch, according to the report.
After the crash, Jill Schmucker could not move; she later learned that her back was broken, she told 9News. She said she soon realized that though her children Ryder and Rollie were alright, her husband was unconscious. She still had not given birth to her baby. Her phone, which had been in her lap, was gone, but she remembered that her husband kept his phone in his pocket. Since she could not move, she said she directed her 6-year-old son Ryder to grab the phone and call 911. Emergency responders arrived and took her to the hospital, where she had an emergency C-section and gave birth to a third boy named Leedan, the report states.
“I got several miracles, three perfect boys that were barely even bruised. And I’m here and I’m walking which is a miracle,” she said, gratefully. In grief, she added, “I just didn’t get that one last miracle that I would have loved to have.”
“He was such a positive person….he just always believed the best in everyone and that’s what I want them to remember.”
Authorities still are unsure what caused Tony Schmucker’s death. He has been described as a “quintessential Coloradan” who loved the Broncos and spending time outdoors. His family said he was looking forward to sharing his love of the outdoors with his boys, including camping, fishing, hunting and snowboarding.
On how she is holding up after the tragedy, Jill explained, “Being a parent, you have superhuman strength when it comes to your kids. And now, that’s what keeps me motivated, too, because they need me.”
Schmuckers’ family and friends have created a GoFundMe page for the grieving mother and children, which can be accessed here.
