This past weekend, the Preeclampsia Foundation had its annual gala fundraiser, "Saving Grace," here in Chicago. I was able to attend a patient symposium on Friday and I volunteered at the event Saturday night.
What an emotional weekend. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in front of perfect strangers. Then again, even though I went alone and didn't know anyone, no one was really a stranger. We are all connected.
I know we are the lucky ones, and I am trying my best to avoid the waves of survivor guilt that sometimes crash through me. But it was overwhelming to hear all of the tragic stories in person and to meet and hug some of the people I had only known before this weekend as words on a page. The losses are so deep and unimaginable.
One story of loss in particular has stuck with me. And, more importantly, I was very inspired by something that grew out of that loss.
In 2005, Shelly was pregnant for the first time. She developed HELLP Syndrome and died a week after her emergency delivery. Her daughter, Hailey, survived, and is doing well. Shelly's parents have become champions in the field of Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome awareness. Here is Shelly's story.
One of the many positive things that grew out of this tragedy was a wonderful idea that Shelly's friends came up with, in which they pledge a new goal every week http://fifty2resolutions.wordpress.com/
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A blog about hope, survival, self-awareness and motherhood.
This is a place for sharing feelings, resources and ideas. I want to help people connect with each other and heal from sadness; to learn to live in the present moment with gratitude, compassion and positive intention. I was inspired to do this blog after experiencing a life-threatening illness during my first pregnancy, called HELLP Syndrome, so you'll see a bit about that on this site, but I only want that to be part of what this site is about. You are invited to join this community of people living positively. Click here to see how this all came to be.
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What is HELLP Syndrome?
HELLP Syndrome, which is a unique variant of preeclampsia (formerly "toxemia"), was named by Louis Weinstein in 1982 after its characteristics:
H (hemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells),
EL (elevated liver enzymes) and
LP (low platelet count)
It can be fatal to both the mother and the baby. HELLP Syndrome occurs in tandem with preeclampsia, but because HELLP Syndrome's symptoms may happen before preeclampsia's three findings (high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling), they may be misdiagnosed as symptoms of gastritis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), acute hepatitis, gall bladder disease, and other conditions. As a result, the mother may not get the right treatment, leaving both mother and baby that much more at risk. Click here for more information.
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