So there will be a cure when my daughters are adults. So other women will have support and access to resources to make their pregnancy and post-partum paths smoother.

Preeclampsia changed the course of my life. In an instant, I went from being home with my newborn to a terrifying and traumatic hospital stay that left me with crippling postpartum anxiety. I was confused about what was happening and it all felt so chaotic when I was at my most vulnerable as a new mom. I knew almost nothing about preeclampsia, and felt totally unprepared.

It took me a long time to make sense of what happened and to feel emotionally ready to have another baby. With the support of an incredible high risk care team and an incredible therapist, and of course my loved ones, I did it! My second pregnancy was not easy, but it was manageable. I always say my second pregnancy was the bravest thing I ever did.

The resources from the Preeclampsia Foundation, especially the stories from other moms like me, were an important part of my journey to having a second baby. Given the reductions in federal funding for public health research, the Promise Walk feels especially important to me this year. I am choosing to participate for the first time as I want to do what I can to ensure that research into a cure continues, so when my daughters are adults being pregnant will be safer for them if that's something they want for themselves. I also strongly believe that if women were better informed about preeclampsia, it would lead to better mental health outcomes. It doesn't need to be such a shock and, until there is a cure, it should be more normalized as it's not as rare as so many people think. I want all other survivors out there to know that if they are experiencing mental health struggles as a result of preeclampsia, they are not alone. Not at all.