When personal tragedy Turns Into a global mission

These women, armed with medical research and personal experience, built what would become the Preeclampsia, Eclampsia & HELLP Syndrome Survivors (PEHSS) Facebook group. Their mission? To replace dangerous myths with life-saving facts, to transform fear into knowledge, and to ensure no woman would face these complications alone.

Their impact was profound. The group grew to over 10,000 members across more than 100 countries, welcoming 400+ new members monthly. In a digital world often clouded by misinformation, PEHSS stood as a beacon of scientific truth. Healthcare professionals began referring their patients. Nurses sought advocacy support. Researchers recognized the invaluable resource of our combined experiences. We had become more than a support group—we were a movement.

A father's promise: Shelly Bridgewater Dreams Foundation (SBDF)

Meanwhile, in the heartland of America, an Iowa farmer named John Warner was grappling with an unimaginable loss.

His daughter, Shelly Warner Bridgewater, had died from preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome just one week after giving birth to her daughter, Hailey. In their grief, John and his wife Brenda made a solemn vow: they would dedicate themselves to ensuring no other family would endure such heartbreak.

From this promise, the Shelly Bridgewater Dreams Foundation (SBDF) was born. Working with the University of Iowa Hospitals OBGyn Department, they built a grassroots movement of education and awareness, touching lives through in-person events and hospital programs.