I don't remember the night of my daughter's birth. I've learned my story through my family's recollections and scouring my medical records like a detective.

At 34 weeks pregnant, I arrived at the hospital after multiple visits due to high blood pressure caused by severe preeclampsia.

I was induced, but after my daughter went into distress an emergency c-section was ordered. Before the c-section commenced, I had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest. My daughter was safely delivered, but I barely pulled through after 40 minutes of CPR.

A lack of oxygen during that time frame caused an anoxic brain injury and an extended hospital stay of six weeks. I have few memories of that time period except for my constant longing to see my daughter who was in a separate facility at the NICU.

We were fortunate to be released only a day apart from one another. However, the trauma of my birth experience, hospital stay, and short-term memory loss brought its own set of challenges. I share my story in hopes of bringing preeclampsia's dangers to the front of the minds of medical providers and expectant mothers.