Hi everyone,
Its good to be back online!
For those who will be joining us..Welcome.
I have a personal & now professional interest in pre-eclampsia, here is a bit about me.
I became involved with a pre eclampsia charity in 1998 following the traumatic arrival of my daughter at 26 weeks. I had severe pre eclampsia and following her birth, I fitted. I also had HELLP syndrome.
With monumental effort from my daughter & excellent neonatal care, wrapped in volumes of luck, she is now a noisy 11 year old like any other. She Spent 8 1/2 months in intensive care, before being allowed home to die. (We were told we needed some time together as a family.) Ironically it was March 23rd....Mothers Day. Our house looked like a mini ITU, with a cacophony of drugs & equipment scattered everywhere. Aimee survived although she spent until she was 2 1/2 attached to her oxygen cylinder.
It was almost her 1st birthday when I started to realise that I was so exhausted the whole time & was carrying a huge bag of mixed emotions with me everywhere I went, that I started to think...What on Earth happened to me? Why does my daughter have to struggle like this? Was it something I did....or didnt do? I needed help. I needed answers.
After many attempts to summon the courage to pick up the phone I eventually called a Helpline. I was, for the first time, able to pour out my anxieties to someone who understood & could point me in the best direction to get my answers.
When I did get the answers I got cross! I am a trained nurse, why did I not know that this terrible condition even existed. I decided to do something about that!
I go & talk to midwives (or anyone else) about Pre Eclampsia & its devastating effects
In October 2005 I was employed by Action on Pre Eclampsia when I took over the role of Support Manager until my redundancy in April 2008.
I soon realised that women & their families still needed support so set up this forum.
Together I hope we can support each other through some difficult times as well as share our 'highs'.
With very Best Wishes
Liz