By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@kcautv.com
"I sat in like two pairs of swishy pants, a pair of leggings, I had two different shirts on, and my coat, and my hat and my gloves, and I'm like OK, it's cold in here," said Shea Hartmann-Hodges, of Sioux City.
Hartmann-Hodges isn't bundling up to go outside, instead she's trying to stay warm inside her own home.
"Right now it says 61 degrees," said Hartmann-Hodges.
Hartmann-Hodges started having problems with the furnace about three weeks ago. But not having the money to fix it, she was hoping to hold off on a getting a new one. But just this past Tuesday, the furnace had to be shut off completely.
"It feels like the main organ of my house has died, and we're surviving on life support with space heaters."
The family has five different space heaters around the home, just to try and stay warm.
"A fire, that's my biggest fear, a fire."
Despite furnaces in nearly every corner of the house, and plastic on the windows, Hartmann-Hodges and her three boys brace themselves for the frigid cold nights, by loading up blankets.
"This is my oldest son's room. Last night he slept with two comforters and a throw blanket."
Hartmann-Hodges' oldest son recently asked his mom if he could help raise money for a new furnace, luckily, her father-in-law stepped in to help.
"It's very humbling when you have to ask for help," said Hartmann-Hodges.
Workers were at her home Thursday, installing a brand new heater.
"There's heat! Yay!"
So it's no more cold nights for her and her boys.
