After an easy pregnancy, I went to labor and delivery at 38 weeks thinking my water broke. It hadn't, but the nurses did find out that my blood pressure was much too high. Since the baby was breach I was scheduled for a c-section anyways, and they chose to have me deliver that night. My daughter Clare was born within a couple hours and was perfect in every way! I spent 5 nights in the hospital while they tried to get my pressures under control before being discharged. Unfortunately, I was back in the next night with even higher pressures, and was readmitted, put on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures, and stayed an additional two nights.

After a few more scares and a change in meds, my blood pressure is back under control. I now have chronic hypertension, but am learning to live with it and am so grateful that my daughter and I are safe. Not everyone is so lucky, and there isn't nearly enough known about preeclampsia. I would love your help raising money for research, to help save the lives of more moms and their babies!