More than 20 years ago, QFloors co-founders Chad and Chris Ogden spent an agonizing week at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, hovering over the bed of their gravely ill 2-year old daughter.
“It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life,” Chris Ogden said. “But they saved our Annie’s life. We will forever be grateful.”
Their toddler Annie had been hit by an unusual and vicious virus that had not only developed into pancreatitis (very unusual in a small child), but also affected the fluid around her brain, resulting in her no longer being able to walk, stand, or sit up.
“When we brought her to the hospital, I was weeping, overwhelmed by panic that we might lose her,” Chris Ogden said. “But then, a week later, when she was released from the hospital, I cried again. But this time I was overcome, thinking about all of the parents and children we’d met who were not able to leave the hospital. We felt incredibly blessed that our daughter’s outcome was looking promising, but we mourned for those who were dealing with gut-wrenching circumstances.”
The Ogdens were recently able to give back to the children’s hospital that saved their daughter’s life, as part of a holiday service project the flooring software company sponsored. QFloors employees participated in an in-kind donation drive for the nationally ranked pediatric hospital, gathering toys, books, games and clothing for the young patients.
Located in Salt Lake City, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. It is a not-for-profit teaching hospital that focuses on pediatric acute care for children with complex illnesses and injuries, and serves the states of Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, which is a vast geographic area.
Many other QFloors employees also had personal ties to the children’s hospital. For example, QFloors co-founder/CFO Trent Ogden’s young son Taylor was a patient at the hospital multiple times, when he developed a condition causing his system to create and pass kidney stones from a very early age. Customer Support Director Kristy Hayek’s 7-year-old son spent a long weekend at the hospital due to complications from asthma.
Kristy Hayek remembers, “I spent the nights there with him, and remember they even brought me a little wagon for his baby brother to sleep in, who was only one or two at the time. They really go out of their way to make the kids feel safe and happy. I remember the nurse telling him he could pick up the phone and order a hamburger or ice cream any time. They also had a cool toy room they would take him to and let him pick out any toys he would like to play with.”
Other QFloors employees have stories about Primary Children’s Hospital hospital caring for the children of extended family, neighbors and friends. As a result, the staff threw themselves into the project, eventually gathering 110 new items for the hospital. Donations included art supplies, books, infant and toddler sleepers, and toys and games for a wide range of ages and interests.
Marketing Director Aerin Ogden spearheaded the project, and expressed gratitude for the experience. "The response we've had for this service project has been amazing. We didn't have a lot of time to collect items, so it's pretty incredible to see how generous and quick to respond our employees have been."
Acknowledging the full circle moment, QFloors president Chad Ogden noted, “Even though we can never truly repay them, it feels good to be able to give back to a place that, in a way, gave us our daughter. Today Annie is an energetic, hilarious, ambitious and healthy college student. So we are so happy and grateful to do a little to help Primary Children’s Hospital and their patients.”
