Judy's story

Judy was just 23 years old and looking forward to the birth of her first child when during the first part of the 8th month of her pregnancy she began to feel badly. Not sure if it was anything to be worried about, she noticed her feet and ankles swelled so badly she could barely get her shoes on to go out to see a movie about D-day on the campus of Andrews University in October 1966. The following day she and her husband put the baby bed together and began to get the nursery ready for their Christmas arrival, still a surprise in the days before routine ultrasound. Later in the evening nausea and epigastric pain set in and was unrelenting. Denying contractions or vaginal bleeding the couple laid down and tried to rest, but to no avail.

Around 6 a.m. her physician was called about the uncomfortable night and her headaches and confusion, and stated he would come over to see her after he had showered and was on his way to the office.

By 8 a.m. the physician arrived, checked her blood pressure, stated it was high and that she needed to rest as she hadn't slept all night, and gave her a shot of penicillin. Why, I have no idea. Jello was made and put in the refrigerator for later on, and her loving husband chose to stay home from work with her, as things just didn't seem right.

Around 10a.m. Judy had her first seizure and at that point was taken to a hospital nearby. During her admission and throughout the day her husband and sister would be asked, "Has she had epilepsy before?" The answer would be returned, "She's never had epilepsy, but she is 8 months pregnant." Not knowing how the pregnancy, high blood pressure and seizures related, the family would restate that Judy was not epileptic, and when was the doctor coming?

After a nursing shift change, visits from the emergency room physician to the bedside to attempt to assist the seizing patient and cessation of fetal heart rate of the baby, a "specialist" finally came into the room around 8p.m. A quick examination of the patient, her blood pressure, and fundal eye check and he promptly said "she has eclampsia and the remedy is to deliver the baby." As the physician left the room to try to arrange for a cesarean section, Judy stopped breathing...

A code was called, CPR was carried out and the patient placed on a ventilator with cardiac compressions. After lots of prayers, long distance visits from family members, and attempts of medical care that were initiated way too late, the young mother and her unborn baby (later to be found to be a little girl) passed away.

I believe every mother-to-be must be taught the difference between common discomforts of pregnancy and warning signs of complications that threaten their life. High blood pressure in pregnancy always needs to be promptly evaluated and treated. Some swelling of the feet and legs in the later half of pregnancy may be completely normal, but marked swelling above the waist and especially in the face are signs of complications. Bad headaches that cannot be relieved by rest and/or Tylenol need to be evaluated that day.

Judy has been the driving force behind my decision to become a Certified Nurse-Midwife. She was my older sister, loved by the family and missed by all. I expect to see her again in heaven and get to meet her infant there.