Helping Save Mothers and Babies from Illness and Death Due to Preeclampsia

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My pregnancy with Owen changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. It was my first pregnancy, and I knew very little about preeclampsia. One morning, my hands became extremely swollen. At 25 weeks, I developed severe preeclampsia and spent 43 days in the hospital fighting dangerously high blood pressure and desperately hoping my son would be okay.

During those 43 days, I developed three blood clots in my arms and pneumonia. I was extremely sick, but I felt lucky every day that I was still pregnant and that Owen was still growing.

At 30 weeks, I delivered Owen by emergency C-section.

He weighed just 1,075 grams and was 14 inches long. He was so incredibly small, but I remember being shocked by how long he was. I would sit beside his isolette and read to him, and sometimes his tiny arms would pop up.

My heart left my body.

On his fourth day of life, Owen developed a brain bleed and passed away.

While I was grieving the loss of my son, I was also fighting to recover physically. I had to worry about my own health while my whole world was crashing down around me. I had to tell the story of losing my baby over and over again to health professionals. I was on heavy blood thinners and needed five iron infusions.

Losing Owen changed everything.

There is still so much we don't understand about preeclampsia. I walk because I never want another family to experience what mine did. I walk because I want people to know that preeclampsia can become life-threatening incredibly quickly, and that awareness, research, and better care matter.

I want my experience to mean something beyond the worst thing that ever happened to me.

By walking, raising awareness, and supporting the work of the Preeclampsia Foundation, I can turn some of that pain into action. I can help honor Owen by fighting for the families who come after us.

Owen should be here.

Since he can't walk beside me, I walk for him.

Every step is for Owen.

I Walk for My Son, Owen