MONONA, Wis. -- Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day for a walk along Lake Monona and nearly 50 people gathered at Law Park for the fifth annual Preeclampsia Awareness Walk.

Preeclampsiaa is a hypertension disorder and affects up to 8 percent of pregnant women.

The condition can be life-threatening.

"It's a hard disease to predict and it's a hard disease to know how bad it could get," said Jill Siegel.

Four years ago, Siegel delivered her baby 10 weeks early because she was preeclamptic.

"I went to the doctor and my blood pressure was high," said Siegel. "I was having severe headaches and vomiting. They did an emergency C-section because I had preeclampsia."

Preeclampsia affects one in 12 pregnant women in the U.S., according to health officials.

"It's so hard, particularly for first time pregnancies," said Siegel. "But you really do have to know your body."

Siegel's preeclamptic condition caused her to go in and out of a coma, suffer organ failure and a stroke. Her premature daughter survived and was able to go home.

"I couldn't hold her. I couldn't care for her at all," she said.

Siegel said she hopes by sharing her story that pregnant women will learn more. She walked on Sunday to help that happen.

"There is no known cure, no known cause, which is why we're here today to raise awareness," she said.

The Preeclampsia Foundation said the condition is a disorder that is unfamiliar to many women.

"(About) 76,000 women die from it every year," said Siegel. "Still, most people think in the U.S. that women don't die in childbirth anymore."

Siegel said her recovery was successful, but it was because she spotted the warning signs before it was too late.

"If you don't think something is right with your pregnancy, get to the doctor and make sure everything is ok," said Siegel.

Siegel is also organizing the annual Preeclampsia Benefit 'Saving Grace' in Chicago in the fall.

The Preeclampsia Foundation has a Web site where people can learn more about the signs and symptoms of the disease.