It’s hard to put into words how we feel when we find out we’re going to be parents for the first time. It doesn’t matter whether we are expectant mothers or fathers; the vast majority of us are simply thrilled to discover we are having a child. Of course, our first thoughts are filled with hope. Maybe we imagine what our child will look like, or we dream about what we will teach or experience with them. Many of us wonder what it will feel like to hold her for the first time. Unfortunately, not all pregnancies result in the happiness that most of us expect as children. Carlos Morales of Phoenix, Arizona, is all too familiar with this terrible reality, and his story is a wonderful example of the bittersweet side of life… Carlos and Erica Morales seemed like a match made in heaven. The two began dating in 2006 after meeting at a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona, and despite a language barrier – Carlos didn’t speak English and Erica didn’t speak Spanish – they found themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. Rumor has it that Carlos and Erica spent most of the first night dancing. When the nightclub closed, Carlos wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and gave it to Erica to do with as she pleased. Erica ended up losing the paper with Carlos’ phone number on it, and that could have been the end. However, fate seemed to have other intentions. The couple met again, this time through mutual acquaintances, and it wasn’t long before they realized their love for each other was real.
Carlos studied English as a sign of his commitment to be able to communicate well with Erica. In the meantime, Erica learned Spanish. “Look at these blessings. I want to give them the best kiss, even if they scream their heads off.” That’s what I mean… The couple married in a Las Vegas ceremony in 2007 and then began raising a family. Their first attempt ended in tragedy when they miscarried. Erica became pregnant again thanks to fertility treatment, and this time the couple was in for a big surprise. When Erica went for her first ultrasound, the doctors told her that she was expecting not one, but four babies! Carlos and Erica spent many months preparing to become parents of quadruplets. Carrying four children took its toll on Erica, so Carlos did his best to care for her while still doing household chores like cooking and cleaning. On March 1, 2015, ABC15 Arizona published an article. Erica was rushed to the hospital on January 12, 2015 due to high blood pressure. Before Carlos arrived, she contacted him to let him know that doctors wanted to deliver the babies soon due to their ongoing contractions. When Carlos arrived, he and Erica took photos and videos to commemorate the occasion. Before Erica went into the delivery room, Carlos kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “Let’s get these babies out.” Little did he know that this day would change his life in more ways than one.
Carlos and Erica’s quadruplets – three girls and a boy – were born via cesarean section, Carlos said. “We were so excited to start our family,” Carlo told Yahoo. “And then everything collapsed.” Erica went into hypovolemic shock, a condition characterized by significant blood and fluid loss, immediately after birth. Carlos was sitting at his wife’s bedside when the alarm went off and nurses rushed in. While medical staff attended to his wife, the new father was told to wait outside. When a doctor returned an hour later, Carlos was informed that Erica had died. Carlos Morales and his quadruplets have won the hearts of Americans since his wife’s untimely death. “We just… On Friday, March 20, 2015, 93.9 WKYS released “How could this happen?” he asked himself. She was fine for a while, then she wasn’t. She was alive, then she was gone. I went from the best day of my life to the worst day of my life the next morning. My four children were born and then my wife died.” Carlos nan nted his children Carlos Jr., Paisley and Tracey after a conversation he had with his late wife. “Erica” was the name he gave his third child. On January 16, 2015, the grieving father was allowed to take two of his children home from the hospital. On March 11, the other two were allowed to return home.
Carlos realized that despite his tremendous sense of loss and sadness over the death of his love, he had to be there for his children. The father of four attended baby care classes where he learned to bathe his children, feed them when they were hungry and regulate their sleeping habits. He also learned how to perform CPR. Sondra Bridges, Erica’s mother, eventually moved in with Carlos to help him care for her grandchildren. “It’s funny how things turn out,” Sondra commented. “It’s bittersweet, but it’s phenomenal thanks to God and the overwhelming support of the public.” And I want to say a big thank you to each of you. We really appreciate your help.”
