My name is Jennifer. I got pregnant with my daughter, Korbyn, when I was 17. Coming from a large family, I knew the importance of early prenatal care. I thought everything would be fine. I was going to the doctor and taking my vitamins as scheduled. But by my 16th week things took a turn for the worse.

Some test results had come back and we didn't get the outcome as we had hoped for. My kidney function was way off. My legs had started swelling. After two nights in the hospital, I was sent home. Plenty of bed rest was supposed to be the key. Needless to say, my condition just kept decreasing.

Soon not only were my legs swollen but also my hands and even my face! I felt tired all the time. My pregnancy wasn't supposed to be like this. I wanted to be the "glowing pregnant girl."

By my 31st week, I was put in Vanderbilt Medical Center and told that I was not leaving until I had a baby. I was induced at 34 weeks. We were trying for a vaginal delivery. That wasn't going to happen. I had been in labor for 12 hours and had not dilated at all. I had an emergency Cesarean section.

My daughter only weighed 3 pounds, 6 ounces. I was put in a medically induced coma for two days until the doctors could get my blood pressure to lower. Korbyn Lea stayed in the hospital for only two weeks. I was released six days after her birth.

All in all I believe that it happened for a reason. If I had not gotten pregnant, I would have not known about my medical condition. My pregnancy enabled my doctors to discover the fact that I have lupus nephritis and scleroderma. Now I am on a number of medicines for my kidneys and heart. Without having my daughter so young, I would have probably died from my illness because we didn't know that anything was even wrong with me.

Korbyn in now 9 years old and is the healthiest little girl I know. As for me, I'm hanging in there. I have to take nine different pills daily but that's a small price to pay to stick around to watch my daughter grow up.