It might be said that the Ogden Valley Moms Facebook group saved Scott Crozier’s life—but in truth, it was the embrace of an entire community. The Facebook page is a familiar gathering place for locals, but for Ellie and Scott Crozier, it became something far more: a lifeline.
Their ordeal began with a string of frightening medical emergencies. Scott had suffered a stroke and a concussion while skiing when, three months later, he woke with severe stomach pain. Violent tremors overtook his body, and doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. A punctured bowel caused by a feeding tube led to a dangerous infection, unleashing E. coli and severe sepsis.
Scott’s organs began to fail, and doctors prepared Ellie for the possibility of letting him go. She refused to give up hope.
While Scott fought for his life during weeks in the hospital, another weight pressed heavily on the family: mounting financial strain.
Then the community stepped in.
Hoping to ease some of the pressure, Ellie contacted local mortgage agent Ashlie Roe to ask about refinancing their home. Instead of beginning the loan process, Roe quietly paid the Croziers’ mortgage for two months herself.
It was the first of many generous acts.
Shanelle Russell, local realtor, along with a network of friends, organized a meal train that kept them fed. She even hosted a golf tournament to raise additional funds. Neighbors, friends, and strangers found ways to help.
When local specialists could no longer provide answers, doctors decided that hospice was the next step. Ellie turned to the Mayo Clinic. After several difficult rejections, the clinic in Rochester, Minnesota finally accepted Scott’s complex case—but admission required a $5,000 deposit.
Their family immediately helped pay for the deposit. And within 24 hours, the community had raised $6,000, which covered their hotel stay and mortgage for another 6 weeks.
The support followed them across the country. As the couple traveled to and from Minnesota, hotel stays along their route were often mysteriously covered by people who were following their journey.
“We would check into a hotel and find out it had already been paid for,” Ellie recalled. “Or I’d get messages saying, ‘Stay here tonight—it’s covered.’”
When Scott later required an emergency procedure to remove necrosis—again with a $5,000 cost—friends like Bethany Sorenson helped bring their story to KSL News. The funds were raised in just twelve hours thanks to random donors who had Ellie’s Venmo.
The couple returned home feeling defeated, uncertain of what the future would hold.
Instead, they were welcomed back by the community that had carried them through the worst months of their lives.
The local American Legion organized a fundraiser, with local businesses donating goods and gift certificates for raffle. Neighbors came to hug Scott and tell him how grateful they were that he was still alive.
During the long winter that followed, people showed up regularly to shovel snow from the Croziers’ driveway. Groceries appeared on their doorstep. Someone even delivered a fresh Christmas tree, bringing a small but meaningful moment of holiday joy to their home.
Today, Scott’s recovery feels nothing short of remarkable. Aside from some food restrictions, he is healthy and back to running the couple’s company. Life, in many ways, has returned to normal.
For the Croziers, sharing their story is a way to say thank you to everyone involved. Gratitude to their friends, neighbors, and strangers who all stepped forward when they needed it most.
Their experience is a powerful reminder that beyond politics, backgrounds, or differences, the quiet strength of human kindness can still bring people together and even save a life.