Becoming a parent for the first time is an emotional experience filled with hope and excitement. We imagine what our child will look like, what we’ll teach them, and how it will feel to hold them.
But not every pregnancy ends in joy.
Carlos Morales from Phoenix, Arizona, knows this heartbreak all too well. He met Erica in 2006 despite a language barrier – he spoke Spanish, she spoke English. Their connection was instant, and love blossomed. Carlos learned English, Erica learned Spanish, and they married in 2007.
After suffering a miscarriage, they turned to fertility treatment. Erica became pregnant again—this time with quadruplets. As she struggled physically, Carlos supported her through everything.
On January 12, 2015, Erica was hospitalized due to high blood pressure. Doctors decided to deliver the babies immediately. The quadruplets—three girls and one boy—were born via C-section, but tragedy struck. Erica went into hypovolemic shock and passed away shortly after giving birth.
Carlos was devastated. What should have been the best day of his life became the worst. Honoring Erica, he named one of the girls after her and committed to raising the children with love and care, learning baby care and CPR.
Erica’s mother, Sondra, moved in to help. Through immense grief and support from the public, Carlos continues to honor Erica’s memory while raising their four beautiful children.