Healing Her Heart Through Writing and Walking

Ty Allen is a poet and the mommy to a little girl named Tanasia… who lived for just 24 days.  This year, she has also become a walk coordinator bringing the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia to Washington, DC.

In 2008, Ty was pregnant with her first and only baby, when at 25 weeks pregnant, she began to notice some swelling in her feet.  Friends suggested it was normal pregnancy swelling, but Ty knew she just didn’t feel right and made an appointment with her doctor.

At Ty’s appointment, she discovered her blood pressure was very high and she was spilling proteins into her urine.  She had preeclampsia, just as she feared: two days later she had an emergency c-section.  Her baby girl weighed just one pound and 14 ounces and eventually succumbed to an infection in her intestines.

As a poet, Ty believes that writing helps her to heal even if it can never erase the pain and memory of loss and has been a strong advocate for the Preeclampsia Foundation Community Forum section Writing Heals.  She will also incorporate those talents into her walk with a poetry reading and art table, along with a raffle, health screenings and kids’ activities.

The Washington, DC Promise Walk for Preeclampsia will be held on May 18^th at the Wheaton Region Park.  Participants will also have the chance to win a Bob Revolution SE from our National Sponsor Britax.  Register now at www.promisewalk.org/washingtondc.

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.

Heart Failure Leads to Promise Walk Success

Amy, her daughter and husband.

Amy Suggs hopes with all her heart that she is able to raise awareness of preeclampsia in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina when she kicks off the first annual Promise Walk for Preeclampsia there on Saturday, May 4^th.

Amy attended last year’s walk in Charlotte and had such a positive experience she decided to bring a Promise Walk to Asheville.  She hopes to educate those in her community on the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia and just how serious it can be.  Amy knows this all too well.

She was 38 weeks pregnant when she developed preeclampsia.  Her diagnosis came at a routine doctor appointment.  She was sent to immediately deliver her baby girl, Sutton, and all went well with delivery.  Amy, however, continued to be a very sick young woman eventually being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

After being told she would need to be on medication for the rest of her life, Amy is now healthy and happily off all medication, surprising even her doctors.  When she’s not busy raising her now two-year old daughter, Amy is hard at work on her Promise Walk.

The Asheville walk hopes to attract 100 walkers from the area and raise at least $5000.  You can register for the Asheville Promise Walk held at the UNC, Asheville Track and Field at www.promisewalk.org/asheville.

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.

Unique Stories With Common Threads

So many preeclampsia survivors enter a doctor’s office or hospital as pregnant women with a concern, a symptom, a feeling something is not right and then many days or weeks later leave the hospital a changed woman touched by this disease in a way they never realized they could be. After all, in this day and age, women and babies don’t die, right?  You pass the first trimester and it’s smooth sailing, right?

Phoenix Promise Walk Coordinator Rafelle Deyle knows all too well that risk is not gone once you cross that line into the supposed ”honeymoon phase” of the second trimester. Rafelle was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 25 weeks and three days. Doctors tried to treat her disease and allow time for her baby girl to grow and gain strength, but at 26 weeks and four days, Rafelle was forced to deliver due to her failing health. She left the hospital heartbroken.

Her pain is her own, the exact progression of her disease is her own, but so many of us have followed this similar path and come home from the hospital to search the internet for answers to what happened to us rather than being on the internet like we’d planned to at 26 weeks to check our registries for what new things someone may have bought us.

That common internet search, “preeclampsia,” and Rafelle, like many of her preeclampsia sisters, found the Preeclampsia Foundation. She attended the 2011 San Diego Promise Walk for Preeclampsia and experienced a sense of community and support that further inspired her to bring a Promise Walk to her hometown of Phoenix.

In her inaugural year, Rafelle hopes that the Phoenix Promise Walk will bring awareness of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. Long term, she hopes to raise enough money to find a cause and cure so other families don’t go through what she has gone through.

The Phoenix Promise Walk will offer not only the 3k walk, but also face painting for the kids and a fun cake walk. If you’d like to join Rafelle in Phoenix on May 4th or find a Promise Walk near you, go to www.promisewalk.org to register or donate now.

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.

Moving North to Spread Awareness

The Hersey, PA population grew by one family this past year when Leanne Parke and her family made the move from Raleigh, NC.  Along with her furniture, dishes and clothes, Leanne also packed all her Promise Walk materials and this year will bring the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia to Hershey for the first time.

After three years coordinating the Raleigh Promise Walk, Leanne turns her attention to Central Pennsylvania.  She hopes that this year’s walk will bring a stronger sense of community for those that have survived preeclampsia or lost a loved one to the disease.

Leanne is, sadly, no stranger to the devastation preeclampsia can cause.  Leanne’s first pregnancy ended at 31 weeks when she was so sick, she could no longer continue the pregnancy.  Her daughter, three pounds at birth, struggled initially in the NICU but is now a healthy five year old.  Two years later, Leanne was pregnant again and this time with a little boy.  Preeclampsia struck earlier this time and 25 weeks into the pregnancy, her son Chase was born.  Chase lived 18 days before he died.

With the memory of Chase always in her mind and in her heart, Leanne looks forward to the Hershey area coming together on May 11 at the first annual Hershey Promise Walk.  Participants can expect to enjoy the walk, speakers, a silent auction and kids’ activities.

Registration is now open.  To join Leanne in the Hershey, PA walk, go to http://www.promisewalk.org/hershey.

Coming Together… over me and you

With over 220 people already registered, the Chicago Promise Walk for Preeclampsia is one of the biggest in the country and has so many stories–stories of survival, stories of loss, stories of pain.  These women and their families come together now on May 20^th to acknowledge those journeys and raise awareness of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

The Chicago Promise Walk was born of another Preeclampsia Foundation event.  Saving Grace, the Foundation’s annual gala was held in Chicago in 2009.  Three of the volunteers from that event were so moved by the support and turnout that they decided to expand upon that success and bring the Promise Walk to Chicago.  In their first year, they brought in over $30,000.

Having introduced the option of an official 5k to the Promise Walk last year, Chicago will offer that again and also will host a full family fest at the conclusion of the walk.  Participants can enjoy the bounce house, face painting, balloon animals, a presentation from Dance Dance Dynamics and a visit from Ozzie, the Kane County Cougar’s mascot.

Johanna Aiken, Chicago Promise Walk Chair, looks forward to sharing in the camaraderie and support from fellow survivors and the families, friends and co-workers that attend.  “This year we have an OB-Gyn office team and another company, cleverbridge has a team. This increase in corporate responsibility is crucial. It spreads the awareness beyond someone’s immediate family and friends and shows people that their employers care.”

If you’d like to come together and enjoy a day filled with fun all while doing a good deed, register now at www.promisewalk.org/chicago.  Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for children.  For more information contact Johanna Aiken at johanna.aiken@preeclampsia.org.

From One Comes Many

When Becky Sloan went into code blue seizures shortly after arriving in the hospital emergency room she had little knowledge of preeclampsia.  She also had no idea that she shortly would become more than a new mother…she was about to dive head first into driving awareness of preeclampsia.

In 2007, Becky took on the role of coordinator for the San Diego Promise Walk.  She later went on to add the National Walk Director responsibilities, and this year she has overseen the inclusion of ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) into our Promise Walks.  ACOG is holding their annual conference in San Diego and has chosen the Preeclampsia Foundation and the San Diego walk as their charity event.

Whatever Becky is doing must be working…two current walk coordinators, Meredith Drews in Orange County, CA and Autumn Spear in Seattle, WA first came to the Preeclampsia Foundation via attendance at the San Diego Promise Walk.  Jenette Zecena also first got involved with the Foundation through the San Diego walk.  Jenette now holds an annual softball tournament in memory of her son.  Jenette and her husband are also this year’s featured personal story of preeclampsia at the San Diego Promise Walk.

Becky’s dedication and passion hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Foundation supporters either.  At last year’s Saving Grace Gala, Becky was named Volunteer of the Year for her dedication to our mission.  Although honored to be recognized by the Foundation, Becky’s hope for this year’s walk and the coming years is for more local recognition and participation by the medical community.

Included in the event, this Sunday, May 6^th are speakers, fun family activities and of course, the walk.  Registration is still open at www.promisewalk.org/sandiego or register at the event.  For more questions, contact Becky at becky.sloan@preeclampsia.org.