Thursday, May 1, 2008

Preeclampsia Awareness Walk

Our family will be participating in the 4th annual Preeclampsia Foundation Awareness walk on May 31st in Madison. Walk proceeds will support foundation efforts to fund and drive research, raise public and professional awareness, and provide support and education for those whose lives have been touched by preeclampsia.

Most of you know that I developed HELLP Syndrome with Ariana just shy of 35 weeks. She weighed 4lbs and spent 15 days in the hospital. I developed gestational hypertension with Phoenix at approximately 32 weeks and was able to make it to 37 weeks before being induced. He weighed 5lbs 6oz and was able to room in, as well as go home with us.

From the Preeclampsia Foundation : Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. It affects at least 5-8% of all pregnancies. Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 deaths each year.

I posted two news stories earlier this year where two moms lost their lives after developing this condition. Last week, I shared the video of a little boy who died from complications of prematurity which resulted after his mommy developed preeclampsia. There are countless other women out there who have lost their lives or their children. This MUST stop. Please help us by raising awareness and by donating to help researchers find the cause and the cure. I don't want to read about another woman who leaves behind a child, or who's dreams are shattered when she loses her baby.

If you are interested in walking with us, or making a donation, please click here . Our team name this year is Lang Gang. You can enter the team name in the online registration/donation form.

Here is the photo montage I put together of our preeclampsia babies.


Thank you.

10 comments:

Aunt Becky said...

I'm on board.

Amy said...

I'll make a donation as soon as I get paid on Friday. As a PE/HELLP survivor myself I will do whatever I can to help.

P.S. I really wish they had one of these walks closer to where I live, I would so have a team!

Amy said...

Oh..and thank you so much for your donation to my MOD walk! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm going to try and make it to Madison, but if I can't, I'll absolutely be donating to this cause!!!

Christie O. said...

wow, i read this and i don't know where it came from but I just started crying. i haven't cried in a while about this, but Poops birthday is this Saturday and I guess it all just flooded back. I remember reading the symptoms for the first time after I got the flashy lights, thinking, yes! this is me! holy crap! and being scared to death about what was about to happen. thank you for walking for all of us. you will always be in my thoughts.

Christie O. said...

ps. i made a donation -- i am not sure if it will register under your name or not -- i put it in the "in honor of" area, was that right? i hope so!

~Denise~ said...

Thanks ladies!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the walk Denise! I am really proud of those of you who pull this off! I handled some of the PR for the foundation last year and it was phenominal to be a part of!!!! Good luck!!

Sally said...

Hi Denise - you commented on my blog a couple months ago after I was sent for PE testing at 31 weeks. My BP stayed normal for 5 more weeks and at my 36 week appt, my BP had jumped up and I was sent for testing again. At 36 wk 3 days, I was kept in the hospital for observation for 2 days, then they found protein in my urine and diagnosed me with severe preeclampsia. I was started on Mag Sulfate and induced the next day. After 12 hours of labor and only dilating to a 7.5, we decided on a c-section.

My son was born at 36 wk 5 dy and was 6 lb 7 oz. He was perfect! He roomed in with us and went home with us 3 days later. Praise God!

Thank you so much for introducing me to organizations that want to help funding for research and awareness for PE. I knew NOTHING about it until my experience.

I'm a little nervous about future pregnancies, and even though I swore in the labor room that this would be an only child, I've already started to change my mind. =)

Robyn said...

Thanks for the Mother's Day wishes! I hope you had a nice one as well!

I always donate to the MOD, I'll look into this to donate to as well!