Honorary Captain: Natalie

Natalie is the youngest of four siblings. She was born at Bellevue, starting out life facing incredible challenges. After being resuscitated at birth, she was rushed to the NICU when her health declined again. Her doctor quickly realized how sick she was, needing full breathing support, and arranged immediate transport to a higher level NICU at Albany Med.

After her first night at Albany Med, she showed no signs of improvement and was transferred to an even higher level NICU at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC to ensure her best chance of survival. Her parents followed the ambulance, leaving their other three children at home with family. They stayed by her side in NYC for a week before she was stable enough to return to Albany Med for three more weeks.

After coming home at one month old to meet her siblings, Natalie continued to face an array of health issues throughout her first year. Her family was connected with Building on Love through her employer, Stewart's Shops, and was approved for assistance during Natalie's NICU stay. This support allowed them to focus on Natalie and their other children while easing the stress of such a traumatic time.

While Natalie will continue to face challenges, she is growing and developing beautifully, keeping up with her peers and showing off her bubbly personality. She is an absolute joy to her family. Deeply connected to the local hockey community through her older brothers, Natalie is already a seasoned rink rat at just two years old. Building on Love and the Capital Cup for Kids will forever hold a special place in their family's heart.