30 years since Louisvillians rescued its 'Snow Baby,' during historic 1994 snowstorm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- This week marks three decades since a snow storm froze Louisville and heroes banded together to save a young girl's life.

The record-breaking snowstorm during Jan. 16 to 17, 1994 shut down the city for weeks, but a Louisville family was able to get their daughter on a plane for a life-saving surgery thanks to the community's help. The snowstorm that went through the Louisville area resulted in a single-day snowfall record of more than 15 inches.

"No one was getting in or out of the city," Ashley Schmitt said.

IMAGES | Record snowfall and sub-zero temperatures brought Louisville to a half 25 years ago

The snowfall happened in about eight hours. Behind the storm was an intense cold air mass, sending temperatures plunging well below zero by Jan. 19, 1994. The burst of cold set an all-time low of -22 degrees in Louisville.

People were trapped in vehicles throughout Louisville and the state of Kentucky. Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones closed the interstates for a day because of the trucks and cars blocking the roads and because crews with the few working plows couldn’t keep up with the snow.

Michelle Schmitt, a 3-year-old girl, was waiting on a life-saving liver transplant. She was born with a liver deficiency due to a medical condition and was in need of a liver transplant.

After waiting years for a liver transplant, one finally came available in Omaha, Nebraska on Jan. 17, 1994.

"Later we got a phone call a liver was available for Michelle," Ashley said. "It was kind of the worst time for the city of Louisville."

With the city frozen, time was ticking for Michelle.

"We weren't sure we were going to make it," Ashley said. "They didn't make any promises that they would get there in time."

Sharon Stevens Evans (who would later become the hairdresser for Michelle's grandmother), helped spread the word to radio stations, who helped spread the word to the public about needing people to shovel. Dozens of people rushed to the former Southeast Christian parking lot on Hikes Lane to shovel a path for a medical helicopter.

Photos from the 1994 winter storm in Louisville, Ky.

Once the parking lot was cleared, the helicopter took Michelle and her family to an airplane that flew to Nebraska. Again, a stranger stepped in, and offered his jet and paid for the fuel to get to Nebraska.

Known as the "Snow Baby," Michelle lived for more than two decades after the surgery. She died in May 2021 due to a stomach aneurysm.

"Thank you so much for what you did because you changed Michelle's life, you saved her life, and you changed her family's life because we got to spend 27 more years with her," Ashley said.

Her sister continues to share her story. The life-saving story will be showcased in the film "Ordinary Angels" set to debut on Feb. 23, 2024. Alan Ritchson, Hilary Swank and Nancy Travis star in the drama film.

"Not everyone who has someone that passed away gets for the whole world to remember them," Ashley said.

Ashley hopes it offers an understanding of the power of organ donation, which kept her sister alive for many more years.

Ashley, like Michelle, is also a double-organ transplant recipient. The sisters were born with the same conditions, causing liver deficiencies. Both received liver and kidney transplants.

"It's a selfless decision to do that, to save someone else's life," Ashley said. "It's a testimony to them as well because without them there would be no Michelle."

According to Donate Life, more than 1,000 Kentuckians and 1,000 Hoosiers are awaiting a life-saving organ. Twenty-two people die waiting each day for an organ transplant.

To sign up to become an organ donor, click here.

Related Stories: