My whole adult life I have found myself moved by certain causes. I love to help, feel like I am making a bit of a difference in order to make someone else’s life happier or easier but Saturday, at The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia, it was different. On Saturday I felt like I was making a bit of a difference in my own life, in my children’s lives and in the lives of all my new friends AND it gave me strength.
On Saturday we walked. We all came together, 220 of us came together. We were happy, we were emotional, we were together. The isolation we feel from our preeclampsia experience was not there, we were among others who suffered and survived. We were celebrating what we have yet always remembering who we lost.
After months of planning, calling, emailing, soliciting….we walked together
Our goal was to raise awareness and in doing so we grew bonds. Women of all different shapes, sizes, ages, colors and backgrounds came together. We hugged, we exchanged stories, we introduced ourselves and we felt less alone.
On Saturday I spoke, I looked into the crowd and I was so filled with emotion for everything that we all had been through that it helped me find the strength deep in my heart and I spoke. I looked into the eyes of my family, my friends, my new sisters and I spoke of the NEED to raise awareness. I spoke of the strength and courage my children have given me so that I could do my part to ensure we know more about preeclampsia before they are older.
On Saturday I left that park proud. Proud of all of us. Proud that we stood up for something we believed in. Proud that we were all so open and shared. Proud that we came together because of a scary experience yet left with hope in our hearts. Hope that researchers will connect more dots. Hope that ObGyn’s will educate more women about the signs and symptoms. Hope that all pregnant women will be more aware. Hope that the Preeclampsia Foundation will be able to make greater strides to deliver hope because of the strides we took together!
Sarah, you should DEFINITELY be proud of all you have done for this cause. You are wonderfully inspirational to me. I'm so happy to have met you and to say I LOVE YOU, my friend. xoxo
Thank you Cindy!! I really love you too, you are such a good person that it is inspiring!! I am so happy that you guys came to the walk and look forward to hanging out more!!
I'm so proud of you! Glad it went well. 🙂
Thanks so much Jo-Lynne!! It was one of the most spectacular moments of my life!
That is so emotional and amazing. Congratulations for making such a difference!
Thanks Carrie!! THank you so much for your support and for posting on Team Abby about the walk!!