I became pregnant for the first time in September of 2023. My husband and I were incredibly excited to hear that we were having a baby boy! Throughout the second half of my pregnancy, I began to suspect I would develop preeclampsia.

My symptoms and fears were disregarded by my medical staff. With it being my first pregnancy, I trusted them and didn't push. As I neared the end of my pregnancy, I began feeling more sick.

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, my husband woke up to find me seizing in bed. I had a second seizure in the ambulance, and a third and final seizure in the emergency room. 45 minutes later, upon arrival at the hospital, my baby boy was born via a sedated emergency C-section. He needed to be resuscitated from all of the medications and trauma he endured while still in the womb.

I suffered from eclampsia, with my blood pressure peaking at 201/160. I developed PRES (swelling of the brain), memory loss, and severe anemia. I spent two days in the ICU while my newborn was alone in the NICU. It took a few days to try medications to lower my blood pressure. After I was no longer critical, my son and I were transferred to a regular postpartum suite. We were discharged from the hospital on his due date, May 20, 2024.

Since I could no longer drive due to the seizures, and I was severely ill from my recovery and medications, my husband never returned to work. I had numerous follow-up tests and medications. All of the medical staff couldn't believe my case progressed to eclampsia.

I am walking to raise awareness for this terrifying disease. I am raising funds to increase research for a disease that STILL takes the lives of women and babies annually. I am walking because my son, Roger, and I are alive and healthy, while many other families are not.