We wouldn't know the severity of the blockage until Natalie was born. At my 33 week checkup, I knew something felt "different" with how my body was feeling. I went to the doctor and everything was okay. A couple of hours later, I was admitted to the labor & delivery department. The doctors tried to stop the labor, but Natalie was very determined to arrive as an early Christmas present! Natalie was born December 21, 2004. She was 7 weeks early and weight 6lbs., 1oz. She had her first surgery at just 7 hours old. That's when we learned that Natalie's small intestines never developed and has twisted and died. They were amazed that she continued to grow and that I was able to carry her for as long as I did. Natalie stayed in the NICU for the first 2 months of her life, then she was transferred to Children's Medical Center in Dallas. She made her way around different rooms and floors, as well as visiting the NICU there as well. She was able to come home for a while but lived most of her short life in the hospital. Natalie was fed via intravenous fluid called TPM where she was given the best nutrients. Her liver started failing due to the TPM fluids and her health started getting worse and worse. Natalie was placed on the transplant waiting list and sadly, she passed away at 6 months on June 29, 2005. In her memory, we have organized a toy drive each year and strive to do it bigger and better each year. We have been very successful with our toy drive and always deliver on Natalie's birthday. The toys we collect are distributed to the children who are sick and to their siblings at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. We cannot thank our family, friends and all who have helped us throughout the years enough and continue to help. Love, Alonzo, Nichole, Briana and Isaac Morales