The HER Foundation is 21!
The Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation’s mission is to provide Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) support, advocacy, education, and research to improve treatment and outcomes.
Here’s a listicle to celebrate 21 of the many ways HER has supported families!
- Launch the first website on HG to educate about treatment options, help those suffering from HG, and offer support and referrals.
Today, our site has had over 2 million unique visitors from over 220 countries!!
2. Establish partnerships with USC and UCLA to expand our research on the causes of HG so we can find a cure or better treatments.
Today, HER has published over 40 scientific papers including groundbreaking research on the genetics involved in HG and maternal and fetal outcomes.
- Groundbreaking psychosocial study (2007) illustrates the incredible impact of HG.
- First published finding that 15% of HG patients have unwanted therapeutic terminations due to HG when inadequate care is given.
- Groundbreaking child outcomes studies demonstrate the need for improved prenatal care and empowers families to advocate for treatment.
- Breakthrough genetic research proves that it’s not in her head and shows how HG is biologically related to the often-fatal cachexia syndrome in cancer patients, and has the same symptoms as HG.
2. Expand support for mothers and families with our Support Forums where individuals could discuss challenges and build community.
Today, many of our original volunteers in these forums now support thousands of other mothers every year.
3. Become recognized as a 501c3 in 2002 to give mothers a greater voice as the HER Foundation.
Today, HER is recognized as the Global Voice of HG with expertise in research, support, education, and advocacy.
4. Host a Congressional Briefing that brings women’s voices to the US Capitol Hill, 2005.
Today, HER continues to reach out to government leaders in the US and other countries in an effort to develop policy that mandates education for health care providers, universal standards of care, and a single definition of HG to improve research, care, and outcomes.
5. Raise awareness of HG to an international television audience on the Dr. Phil Show, 2007.
Today, HER continues to be contacted for interviews by global media, including when Kate Middleton was diagnosed with HG in 2012.
6. Establish HER’s social media presence in 2009 to engage, support, and educate those managing HG.
Today, HER’s social pages, groups, and campaigns have a following of over 40,000 and reach thousands each day with information, education, and resources about HG.
7. Host the first HER 5K in 2012 to create community and bring awareness to Washington DC.
Today, HER also hosted a 5K in Chicago in 2017, and a Virtual 5K in 2020. Families continue to fundraise and connect by participating in small, local 5Ks with HER swag.
8. Establish first World HG Awareness Day, May 15, 2012, to educate and share stories, raise awareness, and create change.
Today, International HG Awareness Day is celebrated across the globe by organizations and individuals. HER social media reach for HGAD 2021 was over 500,000 social media accounts and countless more through the storytelling of ambassadors, volunteers, women, and families.
9. Launch the HELP Score in 2016, giving HG moms the first tool to determine how severe their HG is and track their score to know when they are improving or need more help.
Today, the HELP Score has been validated in research and is the basis of the HG Care app, and being used in multiple research studies globally.
10. Give a voice to women with HG at medical and research society conferences such as Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and International Collaboration on Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
Today, as a leader in the international community, HER is a voice for research and educates providers, researchers, and patients at conferences in the US and abroad.
11. Add more expertise and guidance by transitioning from an Advisory Board to a highly experienced HER Board of Directors, 2018
Today, HER’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council oversees operations from six countries on four continents with a focus on strategy, policy, and sustainability for our work.
12. Hire our first paid staff member in 2019 to expand response to mothers on social media and broaden HG education and awareness.
Today, HER’s Director of Engagement offers support to hundreds of mothers every week on social media and has allowed HER to expand support and education. In 2019, our Executive Director began receiving part-time pay after two decades of work.
13. Attend a 2019 SMFM leadership meeting to bring our community’s concerns to maternal health leaders.
Today, HER leadership continues to communicate with international medical professionals to create change and improve care for mothers with HG.
14. Develop four HG courses, through our partnership with CanopyLAB, to educate people on the needs of those with HG, 2019.
These classes educated the public and were used to train our over 500 volunteers across the globe.
15. Develop and launch the free HG Care App in partnership with mHealth at UCLA.
Today, the HG Care App has been used by over 6,600 HG patients in over 80 nations and helps patients track and communicate with providers through shareable in-app reports.
16. Partner with Optum to distribute over 2000 office posters to educate moms on signs of HG and when to call for help, 2020.
Today, our office poster has been translated to Spanish, and Optum continues to distribue HER materials to clinics and offices across the US.
17. Launch 1 MOM is 2 Many to advocate for policy change to eradicate complications of HG, so no more mothers or babies are lost because of HG.
Today, HER continues to build strategic policy and develop its fact sheet series to educate health professionals and families on specific conditions/complications related to HG, so they know the signs and possible treatment.
18. Create a crisis warmline to ensure the sickest mothers get immediate help when they are in crisis, 2020.
Today, over 200 people have been served by this warmline, and several babies and mothers were saved by the one-on-one personal consultations.
19. Host our first international training for mothers was held in Indonesia in 2020 to educate women about HG, its treatment, and how to advocate for care.
Today, HER resources have been translated into Bahasa Malaysia, German, Indonesian, Italian, and Spanish with French and Hebrew in progress.
20. Feature interview with HER’s Executive Director, Kimber MacGibbon, RN, on Expecting Amy, to give an international voice to HG via a major media outlet, 2020.
Today, this docuseries continues to generate HG awareness and bring mothers with HG to the HER Foundation for resources and support.
21. Establish HER’s Ambassador Council, 2021, to bring more expertise to help advocate and improve care through storytelling on social media.
Today, HER has six Ambassadors who share their stories, educational materials, and advocate for the Foundation.
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