My daughter is 8 months old, corrected age 4.5 months old. I had to learn the hard way what a corrected age is.

Early in the pregnancy, week 12 I took a placenta exam that showed I am at risk of developing preeclampsia - never heard of before. My world turned upside down but my doctor told me that I will be fine, just take aspirin and we will make it till week 40, no issue, I even had it in writing. Starting weeks 20+ my blood pressure started increasing, my legs, feet, arms, toes, fingers, and nose--everything was swollen, I had blurry vision at times. Again, my doctor dismissed it, put me on the minimum dose blood pressure medication, until on Friday, she said she would see me. My BP was 160/100 already, she said I will deliver early, and to get used to this and send me home.

On Monday, I sought a second opinion and when the new doctor saw me, I was immediately rushed to the hospital in ICU, BP 190/120. I stayed there for 6 days, trying my best to keep it together mentally and physically. My liver was failing, I was nonstop on IV medication, but my life and my daughter were on the line. I told my previous doctor about this, and that was the last I heard from her. I had immediate C-section surgery on a Sunday. My daughter was given a 1% chance of making it past day 1. I was in serious danger, still stayed in ICU days after, but the next day I got up, BP and all, and had her baptized while in NICU. I felt that I was dying physically and mentally every second, every minute.

I stayed in the hospital 2 months (they sent me home as this was hospital policy)while my daughter stayed 3.5 months. Exactly on our due date, New Years Eve, I was admitted back into the hospital and I received her to get to know each other and eventually go home together. i am extremely thankful for her, no words can describe this, no mother except the ones that have an extremely premature baby, in my case 25 weeks and 4 days, can understand how thankful I am but also how traumatized I am. A day to remember, exactly 8 months ago, when her incredible journey started.