Jennifer and Jason Porcelli, along with son Shane, are the 2014 Bergen County March for Babies Ambassador Family. They march to honor their twin babies, Brian Anthony and Tatum Marie, who they lost in June 2011 due to complications stemming from premature birth. Jennifer’s pregnancy initially progressed with little incident. She and Jason knew they were having twins and were over the moon with excitement – up until the evening be-fore she hit the 21-week mark. On June 5, Jennifer noticed the tiniest drop of blood. She went to bed and woke up an hour later with amniotic fluid pouring out. Jason drove Jennifer to the hospital, where she was immediately hooked up to an IV. Her doctor did an internal check and then she was hooked up to a contraction monitor. The doctor informed them that Baby A’s water had broken. Baby B’s was still intact. Jennifer could deliver at any time - she just had to lay there and hope for the best. The next morning her contractions had nearly stopped and her doctor was encouraged. They hoped she would regenerate enough amniotic fluid to support the lung growth of Baby A. The doctor told them to prepare for a long hospital stay. Jennifer and Jason decided they wanted to find out the babies’ genders. When they learned they were having a boy and a girl, they were ecstatic. They named them Brian Anthony and Tatum Marie. After another day of minimal contractions, Jennifer was moved into a unit with other new and expecting moms. Jen-nifer and her mom made decorations for the babies to hang on her wall. Jennifer also started crocheting blankets for the babies. For 23 days, Jennifer laid in her hospital bed, grateful for the passing of each day and hopeful for the future with Tatum and Brian. When they hit the 24 week mark, they were thrilled. The babies were considered viable -when they were born, they would have a chance at surviving. However, at 24 weeks, 3 days, Jennifer started having heavy contractions that weren’t responding to the magnesium the doctors administered. Because of the way Brian was situated across her womb, Jennifer was told she would have to have a c-section immediately. “I remember my doctor holding my Tatum in the air and saying, “Look at your new baby girl!” I saw her pretty face and heard a tiny little cry before they whisked her over to the NICU. I waited and waited and kept asking where my Brian was. I don’t know how many minutes passed before the NICU doctor came over to tell me, gasping through tears, that she was sorry she couldn’t save my son, “ said Jennifer. Losing Brian was excruciating – the Porcellis had to then concentrate on Tatum. They smiled and talked to her, trying to ignore the sadness of losing their son. They would put their fingers in her isolette and be overcome with joy when she would squeeze it with her tiny fist. They tried to feel encouraged that this 1 lb, 4 oz little girl would eventually come home with them. On June 30, the NICU doctor told Jennifer she had to go to the NICU to see Tatum immedi-ately. There, they were told she wouldn’t make it. They moved with her to a stark room, alternating holding her, until she passed. Nearly a year and a half later, on October 11, 2012, Jennifer gave birth to Shane Anthony Porcelli. “We still miss them terribly. What we wouldn't give to have our perfect family together on earth, Shane Anthony with his big brother, Brian and sister, Tatum! But we'll all be joined together in time, we know that. Until then, we're just grateful for the life we have and loving up our little boy,” said Jennifer.