My symptoms started near the end of my pregnancy—severe swelling, headaches, nosebleeds, and rising blood pressure—but my doctor dismissed my concerns. I listened, even though something inside me felt off. Around 35 weeks, I started seeing floaters in my vision. Things that normally happen at the very end of pregnancy began happening sooner, and I went into labor early at 37 weeks, the day after Thanksgiving.

Labor was long and difficult—17 hours of fluctuating blood pressure. And then, as soon as my son was born, I experienced the worst headache of my life and began losing my vision. I was immediately put on a magnesium drip for 24 hours, and my baby was taken from me. Magnesium was its own version of hell that left me feeling like I was in a coma. For hours I couldn’t move. Couldn’t hold my new baby, Levi. Couldn’t speak for myself. When the magnesium was done I thought it was finally over. My doctor was quick to discharge me, even though my blood pressure had crept back up to the 140s upon discharge.

After being home for only 24 hours, I quickly began to feel very wrong again—tired, swollen, with spotty vision and a splitting headache. My husband checked my blood pressure: 162/100. By the time we reached the hospital, it had climbed to 191/110. I was administered emergency seizure and stroke prevention medication and learned my kidneys and liver were in early failure. That was the first moment I truly feared for my life. I asked GD to make sure my three boys don’t forget me and that my husband would be ok.

A week went by with no solution, with my blood pressure monitored every 15 minutes. I tried countless different medications given in countless different ways. The medical team worked tirelessly to stabilize me annd I anm forever grateful for them. They saved my life. After what felt like forever, I was finally discharged. Even after discharge, I was readmitted three more times because nothing seemed to stabilize me. The first two months were incredibly scary. My son was tiny and fragile, and I was uncertain about my own health. Every day I felt a stroke was imminent. It consumed my thoughts entirely. With the support of my doctors, family and friends I began to heal. I began to feel like I would be ok. I realized being on medication was not a punishment but a solution and I began to accept what my new normal was and live life around it.

Now, four months postpartum, I’m still on blood pressure medications and closely monitored by my cardiologist. I’m aware of the long-term risks—stroke, heart disease—but I’m grateful to be alive, to be here with my family, and to continue healing. My Levi is absolutely thriving in every way, and he is the love of my life. When I look at him I remember what a gift his birth was, which can be hard for pre eclampsia survivors to do. Sometimes it feels like all we had was this experience, and we lose sight of the incredible gift. There are days I feel like I will never fully recover, and other days that I feel like I am at my strongest for getting through it , but every day I am grateful.

Preeclampsia is not just a pregnancy complication—it’s a lifelong health signal. If something feels wrong, listen to yourself. Your instincts matter.