Kelly Orgel

I joined the movement to create positive change for moms and babies everywhere, especially those most at risk.

After a healthy, uneventful first pregnancy, my second took an unexpected turn. I developed severe preeclampsia, a life-threatening pregnancy complication, and our daughter Emma was born at just 25 weeks, more than three months early.

We spent four months and one day in the NICU at UNC Health, where an extraordinary team of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and many others cared not only for Emma, but for our entire family. Those months were filled with fear, hope, setbacks, and small victories. They unfolded as the COVID-19 pandemic began and as I was finishing medical school.

Today, Emma is a thriving six year old. We are endlessly grateful for the care, research, and support that made her story possible. We also carry the stories of the families who stood beside us in the NICU and the babies who did not get to come home. We never take our good fortune for granted.

Our journey changed the course of my life. I fell in love with the NICU not because it is easy, but because it is meaningful work. It is a place where science, advocacy, and compassion come together in families’ darkest moments. I am now completing my training to become a neonatologist, dedicating my career to caring for the smallest and sickest babies and advancing research that improves outcomes for families like ours.

This year, our family is walking in the March for Babies to honor babies like Emma, to remember those who were not as fortunate, and to fight for a future where every mom and baby has the best possible chance at a healthy start.

Because our family has seen first hand how much it matters.