Bloomstein Turns Tragedy into Action to Raise Awareness of Preecl

The Preeclampsia Foundation is pleased to announce that Larry Bloomstein will serve as guest speaker at the Central/Northern New Jersey Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™. Bloomstein lost his wife Lauren just hours after the delivery of their first daughter Hailey due to HELLP syndrome, a severe variant of preeclampsia. He shared his family’s story as the New Jersey Promise Walk for Preeclampsia Mission Family in 2013 and has since become a strong advocate for the Preeclampsia Foundation and maternal health.

Larry, a physician, and Lauren, a registered nurse, were terrified following the delivery as Lauren experienced severe pain and critically high blood pressure. Lauren developed HELLP syndrome, a late sequela of untreated preeclampsia, and suffered a fatal stroke. Her death, like most maternal deaths, was preventable. Learning from this experience, Larry advocates to raise awareness, educate, collaborate, and implement protocols to ensure safe pregnancies for women and their families.

As a champion for maternal health, Larry was recently featured on a panel for a Congressional briefing on maternal mortality legislation supported by the Preeclampsia Foundation. His family’s story was also featured in national coverage by ProPublica and NPR.

“Like many other preeclampsia survivors and families, Larry has turned his tragedy into positive progress for maternal health,” said Eleni Tsigas, Chief Executive Officer of the Preeclampsia Foundation. “He and other advocates are critical to our efforts to help save the lives of mothers and their babies, and to keep families together.”

The Preeclampsia Foundation is the only national nonprofit patient advocacy organization for the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Through its national fundraising event, Promise Walk for Preeclampsia, the Preeclampsia Foundation works to achieve its mission to provide patient support and education, raise public awareness, catalyze research, and improve healthcare practices.

Through the Preeclampsia Foundation’s educational programs, expectant and new moms and families are able to learn about preeclampsia, and network with a community of preeclampsia survivors. Provider education is also a key component of the organization’s efforts.

Bloomstein will speak at the Central/Northern New Jersey Promise Walk for Preeclampsia on Sunday, May 20, at Oak Ridge Park in Clark, New Jersey. The 8th Annual NJ Promise Walk is organized again this year by mother-daughter walk chair team, Stephanie and Marissa Steiner, both preeclampsia survivors. This event attracts participants from throughout Central and Northern New Jersey, and is sponsored locally by New Jersey Perinatal Associates, and nationally by BabyCenter and GestVision.

To register, visit www.preeclampsia.org/newjersey