Our love and deepest sympathy goes to...

From Cindy
Cjmkids@aol.com (Amherst, VA) I just learned about your website and I had HELLP in Sept of 2002. I was 32 weeks and my son was 2 pounds and because the doctor was unaware of what was going on my son lost his life. I would like more information about HELLP to help me understand a little bit better.

From Cathy
cblonde2001@yahoo.com (San Antonio, TX) I just wanted to thank you and the HELLP Syndrome Society for everything you all do.  I also wanted to let you know that HELLP struck me for the second time.  It seems that most of the information I have read said that it usually happens later in the pregnancy, and less severe than the first time. Unfortunately, I didn't fit that description.  In December of 2001, Zachary was born at 24 weeks due to severe HELLP.  He survived less than 3 days.  This time, Abigail was born at 24 weeks, and the doctors were afraid that I was going to bleed out because my platelets were down to 47,000.  They had to give me platelets and load me up with Vitamin K in hopes of me not bleeding out during the emergency c-section.  I had just had my gall bladder taken out exactly one week prior to the c-section because I was having the abdominal pains, but my blood work kept coming back normal, and I had stopped eating because I was always in extreme pain after having just a few bites of anything.  I was lucky that my gall bladder was gone because they knew without hesitation what the problem was this time. I had been followed by a perinatologist and my OB throughout my pregnancy, and no one saw this coming.  Things went well at first, but after 16 days of a fighting, Abigail's lungs finally gave out.  She passed away on Feb 23.  We don't understand why this happened a second time, but we truly believe God had his reasons.  We certainly didn't want a child that was dependent on a ventilator, or with massive problems.  Now, I guess it is time to think about adoption.  I don't think I could put my body, or my family through this stress again.  I am very luck to be alive.  Thank you again for all you do.