Sharing your story can help you heal while supporting other families touched by preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Here Christopher tells his story of loss and hope as a new father.
My wife Meg was 24 when she passed away shortly after giving birth to our son Oliver. We were so excited to start a family and I never anticipated things to go the way they did.
We were about a week from the due date and went in for a routine checkup. Meg's feet were swollen and she had previously complained about her vision becoming momentarily blurry, but she was feeling normal overall. However, her blood pressure was high during the checkup, so they decided to send us over to the hospital for some monitoring (she was very nervous and I was trying to calm her). After a while monitoring her, they decided there were too many platelets in her urine and that we needed to induce (they mentioned the possibility of preeclampsia). So we began that process overnight, which takes a while.
Meg's and the baby's heart rates were now too high, however, and they told us we needed to get the baby out asap. Since she was not yet dilated enough, they decided an emergency C-section was needed (she was not happy about that). Oliver was then successfully delivered, but Meg's vitals quickly dropped over the next few hours. It seemed the doctors could not figure out how to stabilize her. They then performed CPR for a while, until we eventually lost her.
I wish there was more knowledge on this subject, to avoid having something like this happen to anyone else. I had never heard of preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome before. However, Oliver is a very happy baby and has helped me immensely in the process of grieving the loss of my wife. I am learning what it means to be a dad and what a gift a child can be. Wishing everyone courage and love.
Investigators awarded funding for preeclampsia research
The Preeclampsia Foundation and its affiliate Preeclampsia Foundation Canada have announced that Manu Banadakoppa, PhD, Mayri Sagady Leslie, EdD, MSN, CNM, FACNM, and Sylvie Girard, PhD,are recipients of the 2017 Vision Grants. These highly competitive monetary awards recognize the best young investigators with novel research ideas in preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. (These $20,000 research grants were awarded in USD for US awards and CSD for the Canadian award.)
The Vision Grants were awarded to the scientific proposals recommended by the Preeclampsia Foundation's scientific review committee with a further review by a consumer advisory board. The Preeclampsia Foundation's Board of Directors from the US and Canada render the final decision on those recommendations.
A day of remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss
The Preeclampsia Foundation joins with all those who mourn the loss of their pregnancies and infants. We envision a world where preeclampsia no longer threatens the lives of moms and their babies -- and where families stay whole.
Federal employees can support the Foundation through annual CFC campaign!
If you're a federal employee, please give to the Preeclampsia Foundation during the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season that runs now through December 15.
Use CFC #99819 to designate your contribution to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Thank you for your support!
P.S.
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