On March 1, 2021 I went to work like any normal Monday. I was 32 weeks pregnant and barely able to fit my feet into my shoes. I had been checking my blood pressure regularly at home and it had normal blood pressure throughout pregnancy. After having a blood pressure in the 140s/90s that morning, I went to L&D triage to have it monitored and labs done. When the nurse told me that my OB was on the way to talk to me, I knew something was wrong. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and admitted to the hospital. I spent the next five days on bed rest there. On March 6th, my preeclampsia had progressed to severe and I started having more symptoms, mainly headaches that wouldn't go away. I swelled up 10 pounds in those 5 days. I was moved to L&D and induced. I was blessed with quick and uneventful labor besides having to be on Magnesium Sulfate for over 2 days to prevent the preeclampsia from worsening, which makes those 2 days a complete blur. My blood pressure took 6 weeks to return to normal levels with medications. My baby girl was taken to NICU, where we spent the next 27 days. She is now 10 months old and an active, spirited baby!
Thank you for reading my story. Preeclampsia took several things from me but I'm excited to use this run as an opportunity to give back. I'm excited to raise funds so that my daughter can live in a future where preeclampsia is better managed or nonexistent.
I will be walking/running 140 miles in 90 days to represent high blood pressure, the primary sign of preeclampsia. My goal is to raise $330. Help me benefit the Preeclampsia Foundation that helps fund research and the cuff project that provides blood pressure cuffs to women.