I know this story is raw and hard to read, but that’s exactly why I’m sharing it.

The first time I had preeclampsia in 2023, I almost died. I had no idea anything was wrong. I was seconds away from seizing before doctors realized how critical my condition had become. In a matter of moments, my entire world changed forever.

I also lost my son, Declan.

There are no words that fully describe the trauma of realizing you almost lost your own life while also losing your child. That kind of pain stays with you forever. Even now, I still struggle to talk about it.

What many people don’t realize is that once you’ve had preeclampsia - especially severe preeclampsia - your risk of developing it again is significantly higher. I thought that because I was monitored so closely during my next pregnancy, I would be safe. I thought we would catch anything before it became dangerous.

But preeclampsia doesn’t always happen the way people expect. It can happen during pregnancy or after delivery.

That’s exactly what happened after I had my son Chase in 2025.

The very first day we were home from the hospital, I developed postpartum preeclampsia. I dismissed the symptoms because I thought I was simply exhausted from having a newborn and no sleep. My husband knew something was wrong and insisted I go back to the hospital. He saved my life.

My blood pressure was dangerously high, and I was immediately admitted in a hypertensive crisis. Instead of spending Chase’s first week home soaking in those newborn moments, I spent it back in the hospital - away from my baby.

It was heartbreaking.

Preeclampsia changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. It left me with grief, trauma, anxiety, and a fear that never fully goes away. But it also gave me a deep passion for awareness and advocacy because I know firsthand how quickly things can become life-threatening.

I’m sharing my story because awareness matters. Too many women don’t know the signs. Too many assume they are “in the clear” after delivery. And too many carry this trauma silently.

If sharing this helps even one person trust their instincts, seek medical care sooner, or recognize the warning signs in themselves or someone they love, then telling this story is worth it.