In June, Americans celebrate Father's Day, a holiday that can be bittersweet for preeclampsia patients and their families, many of whom have experienced recent and past losses or endured harrowing scares. The Foundation often describes survivors of preeclampsia as members of "the Silent Club," for the way that such a devastating pregnancy experience can be both silent and isolating. Nevertheless, there is a group whose voice we hear far less when discussing our pregnancy experiences: our husbands, significant others and the fathers and grandfathers of our children.

These men often become the "silent-er" club, watching helplessly and recovering quietly as the blessed event they expected their wives' pregnancies to be turns out quite different. But many of them go on to stand next to us when we throw ourselves into volunteering for the cause, contributing their own expertise and perspective, and even stepping up to become leaders themselves as several members of our Board of Directors have done.

So this month's Expectations celebrates the impact all those dads and granddads have had on the Preeclampsia Foundation over the past decade: whether they are volunteering, sharing their story or wondering how to find information. So to all the dads out there who have given countless hours to the work of this Foundation, we give a resounding thanks for the impact you have had and dedicate this issue to all of you!

We also have exciting news about this year's Saving Grace in NYC and recognize the success of our Preeclampsia Awareness Month efforts, neither of which would have been possible without the volunteer support of women and men.

On a closing note, I just returned from a week in San Antonio where I spent time talking with hundreds of midwives at the American College of Nurse-Midwives' annual conference. It was extremely gratifying to be thanked sincerely and often for the programs and services we provide. Our educational materials were eagerly snatched up; most midwives share our passion for patient education and have the training and temperment to do it well. This patient education program is one of our most successful iniatives - we've already distributed over 50,000 educational materials in the first half of 2011!

Do you have a inspiring or heartfelt "dad" story to share?  Please leave a comment.