Candice Davis experienced a smooth first pregnancy until June 14, 2025, mere days before her due date. Initially, the day seemed normal, but she began feeling nauseous and later developed severe upper abdominal pain. Her husband urged her to visit the hospital, but she hesitated, trusting her knowledge from working at an OB-GYN office. However, when her friend and OB-GYN, Dr. Susan Passarella, also suggested a hospital visit, Davis agreed.

At Baptist Hospital’s obstetric emergency department in Pensacola, Florida, medical assessments revealed elevated blood pressure, prompting her doctors to admit her overnight. Her symptoms intensified rapidly. Her blood pressure climbed, and her liver enzymes soared. Within hours, her care team decided to induce labor. Although she wanted a natural birth, a C-section became necessary due to rapidly worsening conditions.

Davis was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome, a pregnancy complication linked to preeclampsia, impacting the liver and often causing excessive bleeding. While preeclampsia occurs in roughly 5% to 8% of pregnancies, HELLP syndrome is rarer, occurring in 0.01% to 0.06% of pregnancies. Fortunately, most patients recover after childbirth.

Davis’ son was delivered safely through a C-section, which revealed a 17-centimeter injury on her liver that began to bleed uncontrollably. Her healthcare team anticipated this risk and prepared a surgical intervention. However, Davis became too unstable, requiring her body to be packed with sterile materials to halt the bleeding until she regained strength. She could not breathe independently, causing her husband and Passarella to fear the worst.

After 24 hours, doctors successfully controlled the bleeding. Davis regained consciousness two days later when her 4-day-old son was laid on her chest in the ICU. Remarkably, her blood pressure dropped as her son calmed down, a moment she remembers vividly.

Davis faced further hurdles with blood clots in her left hand. Unable to use blood thinners due to liver bleeding risks, she endured local treatments and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Unfortunately, she lost her thumb and parts of her fingers. Over the following weeks, she underwent surgeries and therapy to adapt to her new reality.

Caring for her newborn posed significant challenges, even with family support. Simple tasks like changing diapers required assistance. A year later, Davis has adjusted to her situation. She can now care for her son independently, aided by adaptive devices like a prosthetic thumb. Her recovery has exceeded expectations, and her family enjoys a renewed sense of normalcy.

Reflecting on her experience, Davis emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s body during pregnancy. She advises others not to dismiss discomfort as mere pregnancy symptoms and to seek medical attention when something seems amiss.