Long-time Volunteer Puts New Energy Into Local Walk

Wausau Promise Walk coordinator, Denise Lang, is a two-time preeclampsia survivor and long-time Foundation volunteer who will be coordinating her home town walk on Saturday, June 1 and has almost met her walk’s fundraising goal. Ten years ago, she was coasting along in her first pregnancy, unaware that things were about to take a nosedive. Over 2-3 days, mild unease led to vomiting, headache, and an intense pain in her side. Her medical team informed her that these symptoms were not normal, and that she would be having her baby that weekend, as she had developed something called “preeclampsia.” It was something she had briefly read about in a book, but something that never occurred to her that could actually happen to her. 

Denise shares, “I don’t recall a great deal of my hospital stay before delivery due to my condition and the mag-induced haze.  I remember remaining in bed on my left side with my blood pressure cuff squeezing every 15 minutes, the blinds being closed and everyone speaking softly.” At the time, she didn’t know or comprehend the full extent of what was happening. Her daughter was born weighing only 4 lbs., and Denise was only able to give her a quick kiss before she was whisked away to the NICU, where she would stay for 18 days. Thankfully, Denise began to recover quickly after the birth and was able to go home 3 days later.

In the weeks following, Denise started doing a bit of research into what happened and came across the description of “HELLP syndrome,” which matched her symptoms and labs. When she asked about it at her follow-up appointment, her Ob/Gyn confirmed it, saying, “I don’t think you truly understand just how sick you were.” It was another few months before she really realized how close a call it had been. 

Denise found the Preeclampsia Foundation in fall of 2003 and has been involved ever since. She met fellow women who had similar experiences and no longer felt so alone, noting, “There is something comforting about being with another person who shares the same fears, questions, and experiences.” In 2005, Denise became pregnant with her second child and was closely monitored by her OB. She developed gestational hypertension at 32 weeks and was able to make it to 37 weeks before delivering her a healthy baby boy. She credits her physician with getting her through the pregnancy along with the support she received from the Preeclampsia Foundation and its members. 

“Without having others provide positive support and encouragement, I’m not sure how I would have made it through,” Denise said. 

Denise has been involved with the walks since their inception and has coordinated the Wausau walk for a few years now.  The Wausau Promise Walk will be at John Muir Middle School and offer fun for the whole family with snacks, kids’ activities, and a raffle & silent auction. To register and for more information, visit www.promisewalk.org/wausau.

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!

Young Survivor Wins 2012 T-shirt Design Contest

2012 Promise Walk t-shirt design

The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia means something unique to each participant across the country… but this year for one young preeclampsia survivor, it means getting to see her artwork impact thousands!

Mya Detweiler, age 10, and her mother Dawn are no strangers to the Preeclampsia Foundation, or the Promise Walk. After experiencing severe preeclampsia and a harrowing premature delivery, Dawn turned her passion for the cause into action as a lead volunteer for the Foundation, including coordinating her own local Pennsylvania Promise Walk since the inaugural walks in 2005.

“Since she was little, Mya’s been helping me stuff goodie bags and hand out raffle baskets for various fundraisers to support the Foundation,” said Dawn. “When Mya found out about the t-shirt design contest, she was eager to participate, and this contest was a new way for her to get involved.”

Mya’s design incorporates the many different types of people who help the Foundation “Make Strides and Deliver Hope,” and will be featured on all of the 2012 Promise Walk shirts.

“I wanted to show all the different people that go to the Promise Walk to help, like dads and family members and friends,” Mya explained.  “My mom also helped me add a butterfly for people who walk because they remember moms and babies that they miss.” She was surprised and excited to learn that she had won the design contest out of more than a dozen design contenders.

“The design reflects not just the wonderful community that the Promise Walk brings together each year – people who walk, give and learn,” said executive director Eleni Tsigas, “but it also represents the promise we make to mothers around the world that they will have the chance to watch their own children grow and develop creativity and compassion for others.”

“I just thought it would be a neat chance for us to be creative together, but it’s turned out to be a very special experience,” Dawn added.  “A valuable lesson in how being dedicated to a cause and making a seemingly small contribution can really matter… and be fun at the same time!”

Be sure to register today at http://www.promisewalk.org for a walk near you to get your own 2012 Promise Walk t-shirt! And start thinking about your ideas for next year’s design contest.

Top 3 Reasons NOT to Host A Promise Walk

How many times have you told yourself: “I just don’t have the time/energy/insert-the-blank to volunteer for the Preeclampsia Foundation… even though I’d probably really enjoy the feeling of helping women just like me.”

Well today, we present the top 3 reasons NOT to host a Promise Walk for Preeclampsia, so you can start having these really great excuses, rather than all that nonsense about how many hours there are in a single day.

1. You do not own a computer or a telephone. Staying in touch is a necessary part of being a coordinator, so if you’ve taken a vow of silence, or chosen a non-technology way of life, this volunteer path may not be for you.
2. You live in an industrial zone without a single decent place to walk. If your town has a carbon footprint the size of a T-Rex, the smog and acid rain might be a bit of a turn off to participants. Instead of hosting a Promise Walk, we’d recommend you work on a family relocation plan.
3. You have no interest in funding life-saving research. After all, 92% of the money raised by the Promise Walk goes straight back into education and research that will help future generations. Science isn’t for everybody, right?

Wait a second… do none of these describe you? Then you have what it takes! Read “Becoming A Promise Walk Volunteer” by Autumn Spear for more information on how to get involved, and join us for a free teleconference call on September 13 to find out what it takes to have a successful Promise Walk for Preeclampsia to your hometown, and help us “Make Strides and Deliver Hope!”