My name is Haley and I’m from a small town just north of Huntsville, Alabama. Five years ago, I married my high school sweetheart.
At 21 years old, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and told, ‘You will most likely never have children of your own.’ Oh, but I did. I gave birth to a beautiful little boy. He was my one-time miracle, or so I thought.
In late June of 2018, I started experiencing some medical issues and went to the OBGYN to find out what was wrong with me. When the test results came back, they said, ‘You’re 13 weeks pregnant!’ I couldn’t believe it. I was overwhelmed with joy. I celebrated with friends, family, and my work family. My bosses, the owners of the company were so excited.
When I found out I was pregnant, I had been working at a small medical facility in Huntsville for 8 months. Everyone I worked with was ecstatic and couldn’t wait for my baby to arrive. The owners were like family to me. They even gifted me a car seat. The first few months of the pregnancy were nothing but smooth sailing. Until it wasn’t.
Later into my pregnancy, I began experiencing issues with my blood pressure. So, I made the decision to go on pregnancy leave earlier than expected to accommodate my medical needs and ensure the health of my little one. Unfortunately, due to the small size of the company, I was put on leave without pay.
