Preeclampsia Survivor Brings Walk and Awareness to South-Central Texas

Preeclampsia survivors Kelly & Danielle Smith. Join them on June 8 in San Antonio!

Two-time preeclampsia survivor Danielle Smith was disappointed to find out that her 2012 move from Orange County, California to San Antonio, Texas came with an unexpected detriment: no nearby Promise Walk for Preeclampsia!

“I quickly realized that the closest walk was 3 hours away in Houston,” Danielle explained. “I ended up flying back to California for the 2012 walk, but I knew that south-central Texas needed their own walk!”

Danielle knew nothing about preeclampsia before the birth of her first daughter, Madelyn in 2009, but was hospitalized with pregnancy-induced hypertension and HELLP syndrome at 29 weeks. Madelyn was born weighing only 3 lbs, 7 oz. Most of what she learned about preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome came from the Preeclampsia Foundation website via her mom’s furious online research at the hospital.

Two years later, her second daughter Kelly was born at 34 weeks due to HELLP syndrome, but this time, she was armed with knowledge. After her second experience she knew she had to do something more for other families who knew nothing about the condition.

Danielle emphasized: “We go through this very traumatic experience with just a few people beside us, but there are hundreds, even thousands, of people in our own communities who have gone through the same thing. We do not need to feel alone.”

As a first-year coordinator, her hope is to provide the affected and their families with a place to come together and find support.

The San Antonio Promise Walk, which serves all of south-central Texas including Austin, Corpus Christi (coastal), and Laredo, will be held on June 8 at Olmos Park, with a family picnic after the walk, so that participants will have time to get to know each other and enjoy the day.

To register and for more information, visit www.promisewalk.org/sanantonio.

Britax and BOB Make Commitment to Postpartum Fitness with Support of Promise Walk

Britax shows their support for heart health for moms at the Portland Promise Walk on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

BRITAX Child Safety, Inc. and BOB Strollers have made a commitment to encouraging postpartum heart fitness in 2013, by sponsoring and participating in the Promise Walks for Preeclampsia™, including awarding strollers to top individual fundraisers in select markets throughout the country.  So get outside and participate in your local Promise Walk by walking or jogging* with your baby!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Despite a downward trend over the last four decades, death rates from this disease now appear to be increasing in women aged 35 to 54 years.

We know that women who have had preeclampsia have approximately double the risk for heart disease and stroke during the subsequent five to fifteen-year period. Research studies have shown that women who experienced preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction were found to have seven times the risk of hospital admission or death from coronary artery disease.

If you had preeclampsia during any of your pregnancies, experts recommend taking extra care to monitor the health of your heart with the help of your care providers, who might recommend lifestyle modifications like regular cardiovascular exercise to reduce your risk.

BRITAX and BOB strollers are designed for all types of family adventures. Brand experts will be in Portland and Brooklyn to educate participants on many of the latest strollers available by both brands. Other select walks will award top fundraisers with BOB Revolution SE strollers and runner up fundraisers with BRITAX B-Agile strollers. Britax hopes that with our participation in and sponsorship of the Promise Walk, that we will be able to help increase the attendance at events and in turn increase the awareness of the Preeclampsia Foundation mission.

About BRITAX Child Safety Inc.
BRITAX manufactures and markets a full line of premium car seats, strollers, baby carriers and accessories.  Since its founding in Britain in 1939, the company has established itself as a trusted juvenile products brand, known for a commitment to thoughtful, innovative engineering of safe, top-quality and intuitively designed products. In 2011 BRITAX acquired BOB Trailers, Inc.  This addition reflects the company’s commitment to offering a full line of strollers to meet the modern family’s lifestyle needs.  BRITAX and BOB offer versatility and a lifespan beyond one child. BRITAX USA is located in Fort Mill, SC and employs more than 200 people.  For more information, visit http://www.britaxusa.com.

*BOB recommends that children should be at least 8 weeks old before riding in a BOB stroller without a BOB Infant Car Seat Adapter and compatible infant car seat. Please note that babies incapable of holding their head up must have additional head and neck support to ride safely and comfortably. With the addition of the BOB Infant Car Seat Adapter and compatible infant car seat, newborns may be able to ride in the stroller. The Infant Car Seat Adapter is designed for walking only due to the higher center of gravity. This accessory will allow parents to use select infant car seats with BOB Strollers. For jogging stroller or off-road stroller use, children should be at least 8 months old.  Children develop at different rates. Prior to first use, consult with your pediatrician regarding the suitability of stroller use with your child.

A Tribute to Our Volunteers

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead

Many words come to mind when describing a volunteer: devoted, inspiring, passionate. But those words feel pale & generic when faced with the deep motivation and strength that makes up the members of the Preeclampsia Foundation’s volunteer core.

Volunteers come to our Foundation for many different reasons: mourning the loss of a loved one. Mourning the loss of that “perfect” pregnancy experience. Celebrating their gratitude in having a new life. Honoring a loved one’s experience which they can only hope to never personally understand.

But they stay for one overwhelming reason. It is their desire that no woman & no family, should feel as alone, insecure and frightened as one does when faced with an overwhelming health crisis like preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome or eclampsia. From improving prenatal education to engaging with health care providers to supporting families after their preeclampsia experience, our volunteers are a family who support impacted families through every step of the journey!

This week many organizations are celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week, but words are simply not sufficient to describe why we love our volunteers, because without them, this Foundation would be nothing. We were started by “thoughtful, committed citizens,” and we continue to push our mission forward through an ever-increasing number of those citizens.

So to all of you out there supporting this cause and this Foundation’s mission of hope, we love you and your beautiful vision for what this world will look like without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. THANK YOU!

Looking to HELLP Others in Richland Center

First time walk coordinator Kally Clary looks forward to a beautiful spring day when Richland Center, WI welcomes their first Promise Walk for Preeclampsia on May 11^th.

Kally has learned a great deal about preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome since her own diagnosis in January 2012.  She was 38 weeks pregnant and was being induced for persistent labor pains.  When her physician pulled blood work they found she had HELLP syndrome and she was immediately sent to a larger hospital where they performed an emergency c-section.

Kally’s son, Carson, is a healthy, happy baby boy, but due to her condition, she was under anesthesia for the birth and missed hearing his first cries and her husband missed cutting the cord.  She came home from the hospital and scoured the blogs and websites.  She found so many similar voices echoing her own frustration at the lack of answers about why she had been so sick and the inability to determine what would happen in any future pregnancies.

It’s that dissatisfaction with current information that led her to commit to coordinating this year’s Promise Walk in Richland Center.  She hopes to raise awareness within her community and meet their fundraising goal of $5300.  She also hopes that this will assist the Preeclampsia Foundation with their mission to work toward finding a cause and a cure for preeclampsia.

The Richland Center walk will include speakers, food, children’s activities, and of course, the walk.  Participants may enter the stroller decorating contest and you might even be lucky enough to score sippy cup or bottle from local sponsor, Nuk.

To register for the walk on May 11^th at Krouskop Park, go to www.promisewalk.org/richlandcenter.

Taking the Raleigh Reins

Richie, Molly and their miracle Payton with friends at the 2011 Raleigh Promise Walk.

For the past few years, Leanne Parke has led the charge for the Raleigh Promise Walk for Preeclampsia.  When Leanne’s family relocated to Hershey, Pennsylvania this past year, Molly Herring took over and kept the Promise Walk going.

Molly attended the last two years supporting the walk after her own struggle with preeclampsia.  At 29 weeks in her first pregnancy, she was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and later with HELLP syndrome.  A day that began with plans to have her hair done and take her niece to the local fair turned into a frightened call to her husband telling him he needed to pack her bags and that she was being admitted to the hospital.

Doctors initially hoped to manage Molly’s preeclampsia, but once she developed HELLP, all bets were off and she was induced into labor.  Her daughter was born at 2 lbs, 12 oz and was so tiny her husband could put his wedding ring around her wrist.  Thankfully, today both Molly and her now two year old little girl have recovered and are healthy and happy.

Having enjoyed the sense of community and new friends that walks have given her in past years, Molly looks to share that with newcomers and return walkers in Raleigh.  Participants can expect to hear speakers, enjoy music and the silent auction.  Kids can jump in the bounce house or have their faces painted.

You can join the Raleigh Promise Walk by registering now at www.promisewalk.org/raleigh.  The walk takes place on Saturday, May 11^th at Apex Community Park.

Hallinan Family Works for Awareness in Philadelphia

Danielle, Matt and Annaliese Hallinan

Danielle Hallinan lost her baby daughter, Grace, to HELLP syndrome at only 24 weeks 6 days.  At 22 weeks she developed epigastric pain and called her OB about it.  They told her it was most likely heartburn, to take Zantac and if the pain continued, call them.

Her pain lessened that night, but continued off and on for about a week.  When she went in to see the doctor at her next appointment, the proteins in her urine were 3+ and she had gained 13lbs. in one month.  They sent her directly to the hospital for “more testing” where her blood pressure measured an incredible 221/113.

The ultrasound measured Danielle’s baby at only about 1 lb, but she was in there and kicking all around.  Her heartbeat was strong also. Once Danielle’s blood work came back, it showed her liver and kidneys were starting to shut down.  Delivery was scheduled within the hour.  Danielle’s baby Gracie came out kicking and screaming…literally.  The NICU doctors took her immediately, she weighed 14 oz.  Danielle was put on magnesium for the next 24 hours.  She got to see Gracie in the NICU, and even though she was hooked up to so many wires, she gripped onto Danielle’s finger as tight as she could.  Danielle recalls that, “Her eyes were still not open, and her tiny chest looked like it was working hard to take in oxygen.  They warned me it would be touch and go.”

The next afternoon, the doctors came in and told Danielle that Gracie’s esophagus wasn’t allowing a tube through to her stomach.  They thought it might not be developed all the way down or maybe there was a tear in it and they wanted to transfer her to Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children.  Before she left, they brought her in Danielle’s room to say goodbye.  Danielle said, “It broke my heart as she waved her little hand at me goodbye.  I know she knew I was there.”

Danielle’s sister, who is a nurse, and her mom stayed in Gracie’s room with her there.  Thursday morning, about 2am, Danielle got a phone call from the doctors at DuPont stating that they weren’t very hopeful about Grace’s progress.  She wasn’t doing well – her lungs weren’t getting oxygen to her blood and her oxygen saturation levels were very low.  At 7am, they called again and said that she was maxed out on meds and there was very little else they could do.  They said that Danielle should come to the hospital to see her daughter.

Danielle and her husband drove to Delaware to see Gracie.  They got to see her and touch her.  Gracie wasn’t moving at all, due to the medications that were sedating her and keeping her out of pain.  It wasn’t hopeful.  They were told they could leave her on the support system until her little body gave out, or they could take her off of it.  They decided that she was suffering and wanted doctors to disconnect everything.  After about fifteen minutes, they went back into her room to see her and hold her, but as soon as Danielle saw her little lifeless body she had to turn around and leave.  Danielle sat down in a chair nearby and sobbed.

When Danielle got pregnant again, she was armed with the knowledge that she would probably get preeclampsia or HELLP again, but was sure that she was doing everything possible to prolong a healthy pregnancy.  At 24 weeks, anxiety kicked in, depression and eating.  It was also when they got their diagnosis that their daughter had a birth defect called CDH, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.  Annelise Nicole was born July 8, 2011 at 1:55pm via c-section at 34 weeks.  She was a fighter from the start.  After 81 days she left the NICU and came home.  Annelise is now a happy and healthy 18 month old.

You can meet the Hallinan family and Gracie’s little sister Annelise at the Philadelphia Promise Walk for Preeclampsia on May 11^th.  Register now at www.promisewalk.org/philadelphia.

One Family at a Time

The St. Louis volunteer team at their inaugural 2012 walk.

St Louis Promise Walk for Preeclampsia Coordinator Jen McCurdy sees her walk through both the heart of a survivor as well as the eyes of a therapist dedicated to helping families with birth psychology and reproductive health issues.

Her journey to the Promise Walks truly started with her first pregnancy.  She was 37 weeks pregnant when she woke up feeling flu-like only to find out it was much more serious.  Her blood pressure had spiked and she was diagnosed with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.  Her little boy was born healthy and she later went on to have another pregnancy.  Once again, not able to avoid preeclampsia, this time she ended her pregnancy at 35 weeks after two placental abruptions and an emergency c-section.  Thankfully, her son survived as well.

In St Louis’ second year of their Promise Walk, the team of coordinators hope to raise $9000 and have as many as 200 in attendance.  Jen hopes that their walk provides comfort to those touched by the disease as well as awareness of the illness to those who may not have yet heard of preeclampsia and its symptoms.  She subscribes to the notion of the “walking wounded” and believes her work for the Preeclampsia Foundation helps heal her lingering emotional wounds.

Ultimately, Jen would like to find a cure for preeclampsia, but will be thrilled and feel successful knowing that if she has helped create an event that touches and brings comfort to just one family, she will have done a powerful thing.

Held at Millennium Park in Creve Coeur, the St Louis Promise Walk is Saturday, May 18th.  You can register online at http://www.promisewalk.org/stlouis.

Saying Goodbye to Heart Health Month, but Not to Heart Health

by Deborah Bush, Director of Communications

As we say goodbye to HEART HEALTH MONTH 2013, there is an important takeaway message: Pregnancy history is important to heart health every month of the year, not just in February.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Despite a downward trend over the last four decades, death rates from this disease now appear to be increasing in women aged 35 to 54 years.

We know that women who have had preeclampsia have approximately double the risk for heart disease and stroke during the subsequent five to fifteen-year period. Important factors to consider when determining cardiovascular impact include the severity of the mother’s preeclampsia, whether or not it recurred, and a history of low birth weight babies. Research studies have shown that the risk of pregnancy complications and later cardiovascular disease is cumulative; and women who experienced preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction were found to have seven times the risk of hospital admission or death from coronary artery disease.

Keep in mind that, in addition to pregnancy history, there are many other factors that affect a woman’s heart health as she ages — but many of the risk factors for preeclampsia and diseases affecting your blood pressure and heart are the same. They include a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, being overweight, problems with blood clotting, and metabolic syndrome. If you had preeclampsia, it does not mean you will definitely develop heart problems, but for some women, pregnancy can be considered a failed stress test, possibly unmasking other health issues.

If you had preeclampsia during any of your pregnancies, you should take extra care to monitor the health of your heart, consider seeing a preventive cardiologist, and make lifestyle modifications now to reduce your risk. If you have other risk factors in addition to your history of preeclampsia, these steps become even more important.

New guidelines from the American Heart Association encourage assessment of a woman’s pregnancy history. You should let your health care providers know:

• the number of pregnancies you had,
• if you had preeclampsia or high blood pressure during any of them,
• if you had gestational diabetes during any of them,
• the number of miscarriages or stillbirths you had,
• if any of your babies were born early or small for gestational age, and
• the weight of your babies.

In addition to www.preeclampsia.org, additional pregnancy and heart health information can be found on Seconds Count, the patient website of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) ‑- www.scai.org/SecondsCount/Disease.

End February as Heart Awareness Month right by joining SCAI and the Preeclampsia Foundation for a WOMEN AND HEART HEALTH Twitter Chat today, Feb. 28 at 1:00 pm EST using the hashtag #heartchat. Follow us @preeclampsia.

Looking for Her Own Silver Lining Playbook

First time coordinator Sara Scheirer Collins is looking to find something positive from her own traumatic pregnancy experiences.  After developing HELLP Syndrome in her first pregnancy and severe preeclampsia in her second, Sara hopes to spread the message of awareness in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Following the belief that knowledge is power, the Greenwood Promise Walk for Preeclampsia plans to reach at least 100 community members as well as partner with local physicians.  Additionally, the Promise Walk will honor local mothers and babies who have experienced preeclampsia with a table set up displaying their photos and stories.

Looking to strike a fun, family tone as well, Sara promises a “short and sweet one mile walk,” kids’ activities and a hot dog and bake sale.  Sara believes that if she “can provide useful information and bring awareness to at least one mother and child who may face the same situation, then I will be happy with the results of this walk.”  She’ll have found her silver lining.

The Greenwood Promise Walk will be held at the Greenwood Civic Center on May 18^th.  To register, go to www.promisewalk.org/greenwood.

Mile High Motivations

Amanda addresses the crowd at last year’s Promise Walk for Preeclampsia in Denver

Third-time coordinator Amanda Meier along with first time co-coordinator Melissa Heideman are looking to restore the Denver Promise Walk for Preeclampsia to the polished shine it had its first year in 2011.

The duo are hoping that 225 people will join them this year in raising at least $15,000 and bringing awareness and support to countless others in the Denver area.  Under the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, this year’s walk will take place May 5^th at Denver City Park.  The large city park will host the walk which includes a 1.5 mile walk, 2 mile fun run, children’s relay and other kids’ activities.

Amanda hopes that the walk will help educate people on the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, a disease she hadn’t heard of until she herself was diagnosed with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.  It was her personal experience that led her to bring the Promise Walk to Denver three years ago. Melissa joined Amanda’s volunteer team last year, representing the cause as Mrs. Colorado International to spread awareness about the condition. She is a two-time preeclampsia survivor.

Register now and join Amanda and Melissa as they help bring hope and awareness to the Mile High city!  You can register at

www.promisewalk.org/denver.