As a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist I have diagnosed preeclampsia countless times. I have made recommendations to deliver babies that weighed barely a pound in order to prevent disability in death in my patients. I have held my patient's hands as I describe the disease course, concerns and risks.
Now, I have lived it.
In September of 2022, I was 31 weeks pregnant and had an unrelenting headache. I took my own blood pressure and the numbers were 164/98. My heart sank. Four days later my blood pressure was so high I required IV medications to bring it down. My liver began to show signs of injury and my friends/colleagues had to present me with the same hard recommendation for a preterm delivery. Owen Michael was born 9/12/2022 at 11:13 am. Delivered by my mentor and friend and cared for by my entire Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division.
After 47 days in the NICU and a 9 day admission to the PICU a month later, we are finally healthy and thriving.
Please take a minute to consider donating to research so that someday we will have a better treatment or prevention for patients like myself and those I care for each day.