For months before the birth of our baby boy, my three year old daughter would regurlarly whisper in my ear, "God watches over you, Mommy. You need to hear that". Of course incredible phenomena happens every day, but it's not too often that we can reflect on just how the stars align before the pinnacle moment that forever changes - or saves - our life. These words were planted in my daughter's spirit to take root in my own in my darkest hours. Some call what was going to happen, luck. I call it a miracle.

In the first hours of March 16, 2025 my baby boy (Royce Emerson) and I survived an Amniotic Fluid Embolism. Following an otherwise normal, rapid labor and unremarkable 3rd cecerean, I immediately suffered the initial signs of an AFE while in the operating room: I stopped breathing. As part of the AFE, my body went into DIC (when the blood stops clotting properly, which yields fatal bleeding out). While unconscious, I required intubation, life support, an emergency hysterectomy, bladder damage, and needed massive blood transfusions.

Following hours of surgery with exhaustive life-saving measures, my body was not responding. A chaplain was called to come beside my family. However, in what were my final moments, final prayers were also prayed outside that operating room and they yielded a miracle. The doctors were not entirely sure why my body suddenly responded, but it did. My chart seemed to have been labeled "miracle" or "lucky" for the remainder of my hospital stay - quite fitting given that our planned cecerean was on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. God heard those final prayers. My prayer to God for mercy as I faded away in those frightening, bustling moments in the OR were graciously heard and mercifully honored. I happened to wake up to that chaplain in my ICU room. Though unaware of the gravity of what had happened, his words implied he knew more than me. I was a healthy girl. Always had smooth pregnancies. I never imagined my body would face something like this.

Each moment and each breath is a gift. I shouldn't be here. Although I am still recovering, I am walking away stronger and I want to use the time I've been gifted to give back. My son and I have this page for the AFE Foundation to fund resources for ongoing AFE medical research, education for medical professionals, and supporting all those touched by this fatal and rare condition. Families and survivors need it! We are also hosting our first blood drive with my former ICU team.

We are forever grateful for the AFE Foundation and the life-saving working of our educated medical team. Like my doctor told my husband, "They did one heck of a job saving your wife". Every mother deserves to hear those same words spoken over her after an AFE.