2025 Promise Walks

Why I Walk

The birth of my baby was a beautiful planned c-section. I can’t thank my care team enough for everything they did to make it a special occasion and keep me and James safe.

Postpartum was a different story. Five days after being discharged from the hospital to go home and start our new life as a family of three, I was readmitted with postpartum preeclampsia, a very serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. While in the hospital receiving the standard treatment, I also experienced postpartum hemorrhage and had to have a dilation and curettage to assess and stop the bleeding. While in surgery, I continued to bleed heavily from trauma to my internal tissues secondary to surgical procedures and ended up receiving four units of blood via transfusion. I spent that night in the ICU wondering if I would ever go home again. After four nights in the hospital, I was discharged home with a clean bill of health, ready to press the restart button on starting our life as a family of three.

I’m sharing my story because I was one of the lucky ones. if a friend hadn’t shared her story with me, I may not be here rocking my baby to sleep this evening. Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal death. My new advice to all pregnant people: know your numbers, get a blood pressure cuff, and know the warning signs of preeclampsia (persistent headache, vision changes, right rib pain, rapid unexplained swelling of face hands and feet.

I’ve joined the planning committee for the Greater Philadelphia Promise Walk benefiting the Preeclampsia Foundation to raise money for research and spread awareness. We are hosting a 5K on May 31st in the Navy Yard. If you are around that day and want to walk - please join my team! If you want to support monetarily, you can follow the link in my bio to make a donation. Donations go directly toward the effort for the first ever biomarker test for preeclampsia, distribution of vital educational materials to at risk communities, and state level actions to prevent stroke and seizures due to preeclampsia and ensure timely treatment for patients. Every dollar helps to keep mommies and babies together and safe.

Thank you to the best medical team I could have ever dreamed of: Virtua OGBYN Swedesboro, Virtua Voorhees Hospital, Embrace Doulas

Melanie Morgan Peel

My Personal Fundraising Page

Why I Walk

My Badges

$570.00

achieved

$1,000.00

goal

56%

of your goal reached

My Supporters

My Teammates

My Personal Fundraising Page

Why I Walk

My Badges

Team Fundraising Leader

$100 Fundraiser

$250 Fundraiser

$500 Fundraiser

$570.00

achieved

$1,000.00

goal

56%

of your goal reached

My Supporters

My Teammates