My Story — From Preeclampsia to Purpose
I’m sharing my story not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real. I hope it reaches another mother who’s fighting the same unseen battle — whether she’s still in it, or still healing from it.

At twenty-two, I became a mother for the first time — two years after a miscarriage that nearly broke me. When I found out I was pregnant again, I was overjoyed but terrified. I wanted so badly for this pregnancy to go smoothly. I ate well, rested, stayed active — but sometimes, no matter what you do, your body has its own plans.

In my final days of pregnancy, I started experiencing shortness of breath, headaches, swelling, and dizziness. I thought it was just normal pregnancy exhaustion. Three days past my due date, I went to my OB because I could barely breathe. Within hours, everything changed — I was diagnosed with preeclampsia with pulmonary edema. My blood pressure was dangerously high, I had fluid in my lungs, and an emergency C-section was the only option to save both me and my baby.

That moment will stay with me forever — the fear, the lights of the operating room, my heart racing. I remember whispering to myself, “You’ve got this.” When my daughter was born, she needed oxygen and NICU care, but she was alive — and that was everything.

Recovery was hard. I spent days in the ICU on magnesium drips, fighting exhaustion, pain, and waves of emotion. My fiancé never left my side, and our nurse, Caroline, reminded me daily that I was strong, even when I didn’t feel it. When I finally held my baby for the first time, all the fear melted away. I knew we had made it through something that could have taken us both.

Six days later, we went home. My blood pressure stabilized, my incision healed, and my daughter was healthy. Every day since, I’ve carried that moment with me — the fear, the faith, and the miracle.

 To Other Mothers Facing Preeclampsia or Postpartum Challenges

If you’re reading this and you’re in that place — the hospital bed, the recovery room, the long nights of worry — please know this: you are not alone. You are not weak for being scared. You are not failing for struggling.

Preeclampsia changes you. It humbles you. It teaches you to listen to your body, to advocate for yourself, and to cherish every moment afterward.

Today, I’m a mom of two beautiful girls — both born via C-section, both stories of resilience and love. My second pregnancy came with fear after what I’d survived the first time, but thankfully, it was smooth. Still, the emotional weight of preeclampsia never truly leaves you — it becomes part of your motherhood story, a reminder of how fragile and powerful we truly are.

Motherhood isn’t always graceful. It’s messy, loud, and sacred all at once. But even on the days when the world doesn’t see your work, your children will — and that’s what matters most.

 Final Reflection
“The world may not see the work I do, but my children will — and that’s enough.”
— Kayla Lynn