Welcome, Sarah!

We are so excited to welcome a new NWI Center for Maternal Wellness volunteer, Sarah Boss! Please take a few moments to read about Sarah's mental health and motherhood journey. She has bravely shared her story and is excited to start supporting NWI moms and families!

"Hello all. My name is Sarah Boss, and I am married to my husband, Jake. We have a son named Levi who was born in November of 2024. While Levi keeps me busy (in a good way!), I am also a certified personal trainer and do assisted stretching for clients from head to toe. 

Back in college, I experienced depression and self-harming behaviors and had to drop out my senior year to save my grades. Unfortunately, dropping out caused me to lose my spot on the track and cross-country team, which I loved being a part of. During this time, I lost hope and didn’t want to live anymore. I entered outpatient treatment for depression and returned to college to complete my degree program in Exercise Science. I wasn’t allowed back on the track team though and I was so devastated. I had been a runner since I was in 6th grade. 

At the end of my second to last semester, I ran my first marathon. After my first marathon I was upset and angry. My friends were graduating before I was. I became suicidal. The night before all my friends graduated, I was trying to end my life, but my friend would not let me. I felt total darkness at that time. He prayed that I would not do it and after that prayer, thankfully, I didn’t feel suicidal anymore. 

Later the next day I watched my friends graduate and shortly after that, I was admitted into inpatient hospitalization and was diagnosed with Bipolar type 1. My medication was adjusted and I was able to finish my last semester of college. My faith in Jesus helped me through all of this. 

Jake and I married in 2023, and the next year we were expecting our first child. Early in my pregnancy my bipolar meds were changed and I became very depressed and had to be hospitalized again for my mental and physical health. Morning sickness added to it. An ambulance took me to the hospital where my meds were switched back and I got some rest. Through this experience, I learned that taking care of myself was also best for my baby.

In addition to my mental health struggles, I have a history of blood clots and had to be put on blood thinners for my entire pregnancy. This meant giving myself lovenox shots in the abdomen, and then heparin shots closer to labor. Later in the pregnancy, I woke up in the middle of the night with blood soaked through my pajamas. I was up all night, and I was crying because I thought the baby was gone. I contacted my OB/GYN and she said to go to the ER to get checked out. An ultrasound was done and the baby was healthy. I thanked Jesus that night for watching over the baby and keeping him safe. 

I did not fully realize what caused the bleeding until my Nurse Family Partnership nurse came to my house for the first time. She looked at the ultrasound results and said that a subchorionic hematoma caused the bleeding. That is why my OB/GYN had advised me to stop running and take it easy and be on pelvic rest. Eventually the bleeding completely stopped. I was cleared by my OB/GYN to exercise again. Later on in my pregnancy I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had to do insulin shots as well. 

My NFP nurse told me about the NWI Center for Maternal Wellness, and I kept that in mind during the last few months of my pregnancy. Shortly after Levi was born, I experienced postpartum depression and anxiety. I would cry a lot and get sad, but after a few weeks it went away. My nurse helped me a lot through my first pregnancy and in general. Since I had such a great experience with her during and after my pregnancy, I decided I wanted to give back and help other moms through their struggles.

After discussing it with my nurse, I contacted the Center about volunteering. With God's strength this is what I feel like I am being set out to do: to help new moms and all moms with mental health issues. I have a lot of love to give and my own experience with a difficult pregnancy and postpartum. I am interested in doing peer support through the Center, helping moms one on one. Being a mom is the greatest gift that Jesus has ever blessed me with. My husband and Levi have been such great supporters, and I know they would love to see me guide others through the trials and rewards of the journey of motherhood."

Welcome to the Center, Sarah! We are so grateful for your vulnerability and willingness to advocate for Maternal Mental Health!