Arizona woman dies after giving birth to quadruplets

Author: CBS News
Published:

PHOENIX- An Arizona woman who died just hours after giving birth to quadruplets has inspired an outpouring of support from around the world.

The four babies were born on Thursday and remain in intensive care at a Phoenix hospital.

When Erica Morales passed away, her husband was left alone to care for their young family.

“I love you, E. I miss you, and you will never be forgotten. I love you.”

In her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, family and friends gathered to remember Morales.

The 36-year-old real estate agent and her husband Carlos had always dreamed of raising a family. After years of trying,  and a miscarriage, Morales finally became pregnant with quadruplets.

“She said ‘I am never going to complain because I wanted this so bad,'” said friend Christina Todman. “She said ‘I won’t complain about going to the restroom all the time, I won’t complain about morning sickness.'”

Seven months into her pregnancy, Morales was admitted to a Phoenix hospital for high blood pressure. On Thursday, her condition worsened and doctors performed an emergency C-section.

The four babies, three girls and a boy, each weighed 2 to 3 pounds and were placed in intensive care. A few hours later, Morales died, never having met her new family.

“She loved them. She was so happy to welcome them into this world. That she loved their father and he loved her, and that they’ll never be without love,” said Nicole Todman.

The four infants will be hospitalized for at least two months. To raise money for their care, family friends launched an online campaign. Donations quickly poured in and in just three days, the fund has grown to nearly $100,000– more than double the original goal.

Morales’ friends say she often spoke of doing everything possible, to ensure her babies were healthy.

“I’m just gonna push through it, and push thorough it, and that’s exactly what she did,” said Todman.

The four newborns, named Paisley, Tracy, Carlos, and Erica, will remain hospitalized until each reaches a goal weight of five pounds.

Until then, the family says the money raised will be used to cover their medical expenses.

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