172 - A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Advocacy with Elizabeth O'Donnell of Aaliyah in Action

The DMV (Washington, DC | Maryland | Virginia) Business Show

Join us on ⁠⁠The DMV Business Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otto Sevilla⁠⁠⁠ as we meet ⁠Elizabeth (Liz) O'Donnell, the Founder and CEO of Aaliyah in Action, a non-profit organization providing bereavement support to families who have experienced baby loss shares her personal story and journey. As a former elementary teacher, Liz's life took a drastic turn after the stillbirth of her daughter, Aliyah.
Liz shares her experience of being pregnant with Aliyah and having a seemingly healthy pregnancy until she started feeling reduced fetal movement at 32 weeks. Despite being told that Aliyah had no heartbeat, the hospital was unable to find a cause for the stillbirth. It was only after sending the placental slides to a researcher at Yale that they discovered Aliyah's placenta was not functioning properly, causing her death. This traumatic experience led to a significant change in Liz's life, and she now advocates for better prenatal care and supports other parents who have experienced stillbirth.
Liz reflects on her experience with stillbirth and the emotional toll it took on her. She wishes she had known earlier that her baby's growth was abnormal and that more tests could have been done to detect the issue. She believes that the healthcare system prioritizes costs over saving lives, as the US is not willing to invest in costly NICU care. In contrast, other countries, such as Manchester, perform more tests, including measuring the placenta, which could have benefited her.
Liz is dedicated to preventing stillbirths and supporting families who have experienced loss. She is frustrated that measuring the placenta during an ultrasound takes only 2 seconds, but insurance codes prevent it from being a routine practice. Liz has found solace in her work as a teacher and through therapy, but she acknowledges that navigating her daily life without her daughter is a lifelong journey.
Liz O'Donnell's personal story is a powerful reminder of the importance of advocacy and support for families who have experienced baby loss. Her work with Aaliyah in Action is a testament to her dedication to preventing stillbirths and supporting those who have gone through this traumatic experience.

This episode is sponsored by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEVI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The first commercial real estate company committed to the four C’s: Commercial Real Estate, Community, Content, and Culture

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