[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H4292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

  (Mrs. LOVE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. LOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness about 
postpartum depression. I rise today to raise awareness about maternal 
deaths. I rise today to let the country know about one of my 
constituents, Emily Dykes.
  Emily was a good person. She was active in her community and beloved 
by all who knew her. But most of all, she was an amazing mother. 
However, with her fifth child, she developed some difficulties, and 
Emily was overtaken by severe anxiety. It was so severe, in fact, that 
it led to her mistreatment, misdiagnosis, and misunderstanding of her 
condition. Eventually, it led to her suffering so badly that, in her 
search for safety, she ran onto a freeway and was killed by a semi 
truck.
  The horrible fact is that Emily is not the only woman who suffers 
from this. Right now, there are thousands of women who suffer just like 
Emily suffered.
  As a mother, I want those women to know that they are not alone. 
There are many who have gone through very similar experiences, and 
there are places that mothers can go and get help. I encourage them to 
reach out. I encourage families to help out.
  This is not something that will go away unless we work to find a 
solution, that is, unless we as a society recognize it and take away 
the stigmas related to postpartum depression and help provide support 
to those who come forward for help.
  As we raise this awareness, we can find solutions that will make sure 
that the tragedies that befell Emily and her family won't happen again. 
Mr. Speaker, I ask my community, State, colleagues, friends, and 
Members of Congress to come to the table to help save lives so that 
children like Emily's five children are not left without a mother.

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