My story begins in April 2020, during the third week of a global lockdown. I was 33 years old, healthy, and had what every doctor described as a textbook pregnancy. My blood pressure was normal to low throughout, there were no warning signs, and nothing indicated I should expect anything but a safe delivery. I even declined an induction at 39 weeks because everything seemed perfectly fine.

But when I went into labor with my daughter, Lois, everything changed. After 28 hours of labor and 4 1/2 hours of pushing, she got stuck. My blood pressure suddenly skyrocketed, and what had started as a smooth pregnancy quickly spiraled into a terrifying ordeal.

Soon after delivery, I was rushed to the maternal ICU. I was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia, and my condition escalated into HELLP syndrome. My platelet count dropped dangerously low, my blood pressure refused to stabilize, and I spent days in intensive care. Because of the state of the world at the time, the typical support system I would have had around me simply wasn’t accessible. I was left to navigate those early postpartum days in a way I never could have imagined.

Though I eventually left the hospital, my recovery was far from over. My body never fully rebounded, and I was later diagnosed with chronic ITP, a lifelong blood disorder that I still live with today.

But my story doesn’t end there. Despite the fear and the uncertainty, I didn’t let my diagnosis define my future. I went on to have my second child, and with careful monitoring and a very different approach to care, I did not experience any of the same complications. It was proof to me that while I carry the weight of my first experience, I also carry hope.If sharing my story helps even one person recognize the signs, ask the right questions, or feel less alone in their experience, then this chapter of my life has meaning far beyond survival. Awareness is powerful, and our stories have the power to save lives.