2025 Promise Walks

Why I Walk

Two years ago, I had no idea my life was about to change in more ways than one.

I had a very healthy pregnancy—no complications except very mild anemia. At my 36 week checkup on Friday 8/11/23, my blood pressure was high and there was protein in my urine. I want to point out here that at this point I had no warning signs or any other indication that something was wrong. Physically, I felt totally fine. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia, sent straight to L&D for monitoring, given steroid shots to develop Margie’s lungs, and scheduled for an induction three days later (the following Monday) to try to get my baby Margie to 37 weeks.

But on Sunday night, I went to L&D with extreme gastric pain. Being a first time mom, I couldn’t determine if it was contractions or not, but I could tell something was wrong. After an hour of monitoring and no lab work, I was sent home to get some rest until my induction a few hours later. My “birth plan” had already shifted from hoping for a spontaneous delivery with an epidural to a scheduled induction—but I didn’t know yet just how far from that plan things would go.

When I arrived several hours later on Monday morning (8/14), labs showed I had developed HELLP syndrome and my preeclampsia had worsened. HELLP is a life-threatening complication of pregnancy that stands for:

• Hemolysis – your red blood cells break down

• ELevated Liver enzymes – your liver is being injured and can begin to fail

• LP – Low Platelets – your blood can’t clot normally

It often comes on suddenly and can progress quickly to liver failure, stroke, or death for mom and baby if not treated immediately. The only “cure” is delivering your baby, ready or not.

My water was broken immediately, and I labored for 12 hours unmedicated without the possibility of an epidural because my platelets were dangerously low and I’d risk bleeding out. I was also put on a magnesium drip to prevent seizures. If you’ve ever had magnesium, you understand just how terrible it is. It feels like your whole body is on fire from the inside out.

By 7:30 PM, I was at 9/10 cm. I pushed for just 20 minutes, and at 8:12 PM our tiny but mighty Margie was born—5 lbs 5 oz of pure miracle. But the fight wasn’t over. I suffered a major postpartum hemorrhage and lost a lot of blood. Recovery was long, and it took about 2-3 months before I truly started feeling human again.

I share my story not for sympathy, but to raise awareness. HELLP and preeclampsia can develop suddenly, even in healthy pregnancies. Trust your instincts. Know the signs. Advocate for yourself.

Every single dollar makes a difference in advancing research to find a cure that isn’t delivering your baby before they’re ready. I love you, Margie. You are my reason, my miracle, and my reminder that life is both fragile and fiercely worth fighting for.