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Throughout the month of May, the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia has been raising awareness across the country: from Ohio to Florida, Minnesota to Texas, and California to Massachusetts, two dozen sites hosted walks with many of these being first time events. This year's walk season represents the largest effort to date with the most number of major cities and walkers participating, raising over $230,000.
The National Promise Walk team ambitiously raised the national fundraising goal to $225,000 this year. The Promise Walk coordinators took this challenge and delivered. San Jose, Calif., raised more than $30,000 as a first time walk; San Diego, Irvine, Calif., and Davenport, Iowa, were just shy of $20,000 each, while Chicago raised over $26,000 at the second annual Walk-turned CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) certified 5K walk/run.
All walks included guest speakers such as preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome survivors, researchers and health care ...
The Volunteer Profile column often spotlights our women volunteers, but during the month of June, we are shifting the focus to an amazing group of men. These fathers and husbands have seen first-hand the effects of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, but instead of becoming passive observers, they have come to the forefront, volunteering their time, energy and skills.
Board of Directors Chairman Pat Dignan has been a huge supporter of the Preeclampsia Foundation throughout the years, including participating in the 2011 New Jersey Promise Walk and serving as co-chair of this year's Saving Grace gala in New York City.
"I was drawn to the Preeclampsia Foundation back in 2004 for information and understanding, several years after my first wife Donna died from the effects of severe preeclampsia complicated by HELLP Syndrome," Dignan explained. "The need for information, awareness and research about preeclampsia still remains. The Preeclampsia Foundation tries very hard ...
The Preeclampsia Foundation has already made a significant investment into health literacy research in 2009 and 2010, funding and working closely with top researchers and opinion leaders at Northwestern University in Chicago to develop an evidence-based patient education tool that will work with a broad range of patient populations today. That research study has been concluded and is ready to be tested on a wider audience. Research has shown that low health literacy is not necessarily correlated to low socio-economic conditions and that across many health conditions, patients may not have the resources to read or understand in-depth materials, and as a result are not adequately informed.
In addition, there are many education opportunities when pregnant women interact with a variety of care providers - childbirth educators, doulas, midwives, nurse-midwives and the traditional physicians and nurses they encounter in clinics, hospitals and medical offices. Each of those ...
Volunteer of the Month Spotlight - May 2011
Heather Curtis, Community Forum Director
What was your experience with preeclampsia?
I had hypertensive complications and delivered at 37 weeks with all three of my children. I've been very luck that my personal experience with the disease has been mild. I spent one week on hospital bed rest before being induced with my first; I was induced as soon as I was diagnostic with my second; and I was on "house rest" and labetalol from 35 weeks with my third. My highest blood pressures were in the 180s/100s, but I was lucky that those readings were only spikes, and for the most part I stayed in the 140s/90s range. My firstborn spent four days in the NICU because of high MgS04 levels, but my other two babies roomed in with me. They were all small - 5lbs 8oz; 6lbs, 14oz; and 5lbs, 12oz - but today they are all healthy.
How aware were you about pre-e before/during your pregnancy?
I had zero awareness ...
Many of our newsletter readers will participate in or support a Promise Walk for Preeclampsia this May and June. The Promise Walks are one of the biggest fundraisers that the Preeclampsia Foundation hosts: they not only generate funds for the Foundation, but raise awareness about the disease in local communities. For many people, a walk is their first experience with the Foundation - their first time connecting with our community and becoming aware of preeclampsia's devastating impact. This connection is an excellent opportunity to motivate Promise Walk attendees to become year-round Foundation supporters within their local community.
There are many ways you can help get your neighbors, friends and families involved after the Walk is over:
- Encourage walkers to sign up for the Expectations newsletter to stay connected and motivated about our work; to see the impact their contributions are making.
- Host an event to raise awareness or money ...
Upon being diagnosed with any medical condition, it is human nature to ponder, "Did anyone in our family have that?"
This is especially the case when diagnosed with preeclampsia - what our mothers' and grandmothers' generations called "toxemia."
When I was diagnosed with preeclampsia during the 35th week of my first pregnancy, I was mystified and kept thinking: What on Earth is this? I am 27. I run. I eat well. My blood pressure is always a perfect 120/80.
But I have to say before any of these questions surfaced, I looked to my mother and asked, "Mama, did you have that?" She looked at me with tears in her eyes and shook her head no, unable to give me the normal guidance and comfort that mothers so naturally bestow.
One woman that could provide some guidance was my mother-in-law, Kathy Hutchison, who immediately called me upon hearing my diagnosis, being a two-time survivor herself. What were the odds that she too had had ...
Raising awareness in 2011 is no easy task.
A recent internet search of awareness efforts in May turned up 22 different causes, from asthma and allergy to stuttering awareness. As yet, the National Health Observances Calendar doesn't include Preeclampsia Awareness Month, although efforts are underway (with Congressional support) to add it.
So what can the Preeclampsia Foundation, an organization that recently celebrated its 10th birthday, learn from more established organizations and their campaigns?
Pink ribbons, red dresses, and yellow rubber bracelets immediately come to mind. Certain trends are prevalent in these successful awareness campaigns: a concerted public relations campaign, a celebrity spokesperson, partnerships with like-minded organizations, but most importantly, a clear message of the impact that a condition has on the American population.
Can an awareness "month" matter as we seek to raise the profile of our ...
Volunteer of the Month Spotlight - April 2011
Autumn Spear, Promise Walk Beat Editor
 1. What was your experience with preeclampsia?
At 21 weeks into my first pregnancy with our daughter Sydney, I developed severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome and had no idea what was happening. I spent a week in the hospital trying to sort out what was happening at such an early stage in my pregnancy when preeclampsia is not typically seen. When my symptoms worsened, I was transferred to a high risk hospital and forced to deliver our stillborn daughter. It was a horrible and frightening experience. With the help of a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, we were able to deliver a healthy baby boy a year later though I still developed preeclampsia again at 36 weeks.
2. How ...
Have you ever been standing in the checkout line and had the urge to tell the pregnant woman in front of you about preeclampsia? If you follow these three easy steps, you just might be able to help save a life!
Initially, approach the conversation with a flattering question, "Congratulations, when are you due?" then lead in with "Is this your first baby?" Most women love to dote on the impending arrival of their baby. Humor is also a great approach. For example, "You look incredible! When I was in my last trimester I was so swollen from preeclampsia, I couldn't see my own feet." Little conversational volleys get the dialogue flowing in a comfortable direction.
The second step is to segue into your story. When you share a snippet of your life or pregnancy experience, it can provide a perfect opportunity to explain preeclampsia. Newsletter writer Laura Dale transitions into her story by saying, "I have a healthy 3 year old son. He's our miracle ...
The countdown to The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia continues with teams and individuals scrambling to secure the most donations. This month we celebrate our top three teams: Scuderia Reyes (San Diego),
Cooper Landon Barnett (San Jose), and Team "Down with BP" (Chicago), all with over $1,000 raised so far!
The top three individuals are giving the teams some stiff competition. Lisa Bloch (San Jose) has already brought in over $1,000 and Sarah Scott (Raleigh) and Stephan Pollitt (San Jose) are already over $500. With a little over a month to go for some of the walks, turn on the heat!
If you've had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy in a prior pregnancy, deadling with a subsequent pregnancy can be emotionally difficult. Preparation is the key to a positive emotional and physical experience, with the best possible outcome.
Learn: Ask your health care professional for a write-up of your prior pregnancy. Focus on what happened to your body and how your symptoms manifested. Have a preconception check up with a specialist who can test for underlying conditions such as clotting disorders or chronic hypertension. The more you know about what happened to you, the more you can be aware of signs and symptoms should they repeat themselves. Read about all the various signs and symptoms in case preeclampsia presents itself again, but perhaps differently.
Rally Your Support Group: Every pregnancy ends with Mom needing additional help. Add a pregnancy complication and you may wish for a small army at your disposal. Line ...
Spring is near, and many areas of the country are ready to shake off the snow and welcome the warmer weather. Outdoor gatherings such as garden tours, Easter parades, arts festivals and baby item sales seem to appear everywhere you go. Could these be opportunities in your community for distributing preeclampsia materials at an information stand? Email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, Director of Patient Education to learn more about distributing brochures and other patient education materials at your local events.
There are also a variety of fresh ways you can use the season to benefit the Foundation through fundraising: check out the brand new "Top Ten Spring ...
Posted in Heard on the Hill on March 31, 2011 by Administrator
Despite spending more money than any other country on health care, the United States has a higher maternal mortality rate than 40 other countries, with more than two women dying every day in the United States from pregnancy-related conditions, such as preeclampsia and eclampsia. “Near misses” are also important to quantify and understand. According to a 2010 report released by Amnesty International (AI), nearly 65,000 women almost died from pregnancy-related conditions in 2004 and 2005. Approximately 16% of the reported maternal deaths were due to preeclampsia and eclampsia. The AI report also indicated that as alarming as these figures are, they “probably significantly understate” the actual numbers because of the limitation of maternal health statistics currently being captured.
On March 3, 2011, the Maternal Health Accountability Act (H.R. 894) was introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich) to work toward establishing an accurate picture of maternal mortality ...
 As many Promise Walk participants know, raising money early in the year can be quite difficult, particularly coming out of the post-holiday slums. Nevertheless, two Promise Walk for Preeclampsia volunteers did not let any excuse stop them from raising the highest funds for an individual and team. Janel Kovarik, the leader of the Chicago “Down with BP” team, raised $750 toward her personal goal of $1000, while Samantha Reyes and her team “Scuderia Reyes” of San Diego have raised an amazing $1,240 to date.
How did these two amazing volunteers do it? Janel, a two-time survivor of severe preeclampsia, explained that for her, it was all about networking with different circle of friends and telling people her story.
“Tell people your story- Tell them! Ignorance is bliss,” Janel explained. Her advice to other teams? Incorporate a ...
You hear those two dreaded words from your healthcare provider's mouth: “bed rest”. You may feel like you’ve just been sentenced to solitary confinement, or maybe it feels like a long-desired vacation from the grind of daily life?
Whichever way you may see it, the idea of spending days on end out of your normal routine can quickly turn frustrating and take a large emotional and psychological toll on you and your family.
But fear not! Preeclampsia, while potentially serious, will not last forever, and the bed rest which may be prescribed to you is ultimately for the benefit and health of you and your unborn child.
Here are some survival tips:
Tip 1: Get your head on straight. Preeclampsia is particularly difficult to manage because you may not feel sick. Lying in bed when you feel fine seems contradictory, but what’s going on inside your body is serious and requires you to follow your doctor’s orders to the letter. ...
Posted in Heard on the Hill on February 28, 2011 by Administrator
Creating a strong advocacy voice for preeclampsia in the halls of Congress and within the federal agencies is a multi-step process. Great strides were made in February toward achieving this goal.
Early each calendar year, congressional offices allow organizations to submit to them spending requests and directive language in relation to federal programs that addresses the following fiscal spending year. The congressional offices then review the requests and set their priorities. The Foundation through its advocacy efforts and work with an outside government relations firm is working to cultivate strong relationships with federal lawmakers to advance preeclampsia research and programs. The Foundation's DC representatives worked with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-California), a champion on women's health issues and a representative with strong interest in preeclampsia research. At the Foundation's urging, the congresswoman has agreed to submit congressional language ...
Posted in Volunteer Happenings on February 28, 2011 by Administrator
 (1) What was your experience with preeclampsia?
I was a young, first time mother with my son who was due June 20, 2008. My pregnancy was rather boring until around 22 weeks. I began having these horrible headaches and saw glitter in the sky. I thought these were regular pregnancy symptoms and thought nothing of it. I figured I could wait for my next doctor’s appointment in 2½ weeks. The headaches got worse and I began swelling in my hands, feet, and face. By 23 weeks, I had already gained 35 lbs. At 24 weeks and 3 days, my mother decided to take my blood pressure. It was through the roof and we immediately called my doctor. She sent me to L&D where I was monitored overnight. The next morning, my doctor said I had hypertension and sent me home on strict bed rest. Three days later, I was worse and went back to the hospital. They told me I may have severe preeclampsia ...
Posted in Health Information on February 28, 2011 by Administrator
In an unprecedented move, the American Heart Association (AHA) updated its cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines for women last month to recognize preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as heart attack and stroke.
According to the AHA's press release: "[W]omen with a history of preeclampsia face double the risk of stroke, heart disease and dangerous clotting in veins during the five to 15 years after pregnancy. Essentially, having pregnancy complications can now be considered equivalent to ...
Over 500,000 infants are lost worldwide as a result of their mothers having a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Artist Susannah Pabot, a two-time preeclampsia survivor, has decided to transform some of the continued sadness and sense of helplessness she shares with so many other survivors into a creative project: a written word and public art installment to commemorate the loss of life due to preeclampsia and raise awareness of the disease within the wider public.
Her planned project is to install a sea of fifty small, simply-designed, identical cradles on a grassy area, each commemorating a particular infant lost to preeclampsia or HELLP. The cradles will stand empty of babies, but they will not be empty of words: of love, longing and memories. When the viewer steps closer, s/he will find inside each cradle words commemorating the brief life of a lost infant, words shared by families with the artist and woven into a creative text.
The installation will be ...
Posted in Heard on the Hill on February 03, 2011 by Administrator
Policy advocacy at the federal, state or local level can be an effective way to impact the "problem" of preeclampsia in the U.S. Public awareness, research funding levels, drug development and many more issues all vie for our attention, and for the attention of the leaders and influencers who can do something about it. Please help us set our advocacy agenda by taking a brief survey by Feb. 15. The survey asks you to weigh in on what you think our advocacy priorities should be, how you can get involved, types of actions you can take (from e-mailing to meeting with elected officials and their staff), and your preferred methods of communication. Your answers are very important to us and will take less than 10 minutes to provide.
Visit our advocacy page to learn more about how you can let your elected officials ...
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