OGDEN, Utah – Support for an Ogden girl who was crushed by a refrigerator is pouring in from her community.
Lluvia Suarez attends school with her best friend Courtney Hughes. When Courtney found out her friend is fighting for her life in the hospital, she decided to set up candy machines at local businesses and give all of the proceeds to Lluvia.
The six year old is banking on your quarters to help her friend.
“All the quarters that I get from my quarter machine, I'm going to give it to her,” Hughes said.
Lluvia is recovering at Primary Children’s Hospital. Last week, while shopping with her family, a 500-pound refrigerator fell on top of her.She has a crushed pelvis, and an injured lung, brain and spinal cord. Her family says she is finally breathing on her own, but will have to undergo more surgeries.
“There's a long road to recovery,” said Della Hughes, Courtney’s mom.
Courtney set up a candy machine at a local business in Ogden Thursday with help from mom and dad.
“We're placing them here at Big O Tires on 450 Washington and a couple at Motion Industries in Salt Lake,” Hughes.
Initially, Courtney planned to put her earnings toward ski lessons and ski equipment.
“Her goal is to go to the 2026 Olympics,” Hughes said.
But now all she wants to do is chip in any way she can for Lluvia.
“She makes me feel better when I'm sad,” Courtney said.
Courtney’s family is also donating a 1985 Pontiac Chieftain to Lluvia’s first grade class at Ogden Preparatory Academy Elementary.
They’re looking for businesses who want to help restore it so the school can then gift it to Lluvia’s family.
“I know they can fit their whole family in here comfortably and take it out and go cruising in it, or if they need to sell it for money for medical bills than it will be in top-notch shape,” Hughes said.
If you would like to help the family, donations can be made at branches of America First Credit Union using the Lluvia Suarez Charitable Account #9080995.
