Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Rodriguez.
Hi Karina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My passion for maternal health advocacy comes from my own experiences as a mother. I am a mom of three children, two living and one I carry in my heart. My journey into this work began in 2016 with my daughter, Alina Kate, who was born prematurely at 26 weeks due to severe preeclampsia. She lived only a few days before passing away. Losing her changed my life in ways I could never have imagined and opened my eyes to just how quickly pregnancy can become life-threatening.
I went on to have my two sons, Alden and Adam. My pregnancy with Adam was also complicated by severe preeclampsia, and he spent time in the NICU after birth. Having experienced both the loss of a child and the uncertainty of a NICU stay, I developed a deep passion for supporting mothers and families navigating high-risk pregnancies, prematurity, and loss.
I’ve always been open about my story, and the more I shared and researched, the more I realized just how many women and families had experienced something similar, yet it wasn’t something people talked about very often. I began sharing information about preeclampsia, including the warning signs and symptoms, in hopes that bringing awareness could help another mother recognize when something wasn’t right. At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with everything I had experienced. I just knew I wanted other mothers to feel less alone. After a few years, and especially after having my sons, I felt ready to take that passion a step further and become more involved in making a difference.
That passion eventually led me to Momma’s Voices, where I became involved in maternal health advocacy and had the opportunity to use my lived experiences to help elevate the patient and family perspective. Through that work, I’ve been able to participate in conversations surrounding maternal health, patient-centered care, and the importance of including mothers in decisions that directly impact them.
Today, I also work as a Family Support Specialist with Hand to Hold, an organization that supports NICU and bereaved families. This role has been especially meaningful because I get to connect directly with parents during some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives. Whether it’s sharing resources, offering encouragement, or simply sitting with a parent who needs someone to listen, I hope to provide the kind of understanding and support that can make a difference during those moments.
Most recently, I had the opportunity to help chair the 2026 Houston Promise Walk for Preeclampsia alongside Morgan, another mother who has also experienced loss due to preeclampsia. Together, we worked to bring families, healthcare professionals, local businesses, and community members together to raise awareness, support research, celebrate survivors, and honor the babies who are no longer with us. This year’s walk was particularly meaningful to me because September marked what would have been Alina’s 10th birthday.
On a professional level, I also bring more than 10 years of experience in clinical research, specifically and patient engagement. My professional background and personal experiences have come together in a way that has given me a greater sense of direction and purpose.
My hope is to continue inspiring change for mothers and families navigating high-risk pregnancies, NICU stays, and loss. I want to help create a future where mothers feel heard, families feel supported, and no one has to navigate these experiences feeling alone.
I never imagined my life would take this direction. I would give anything to have Alina here, but I am grateful for the opportunity to continue honoring her through advocacy, awareness, and meaningful change. All three of my children have shaped who I am today, and they are the reason I continue showing up for other families. If sharing my story helps even one parent or family feel seen, heard, supported, or a little less alone, then I know this work matters.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Sharing such a personal part of my life can be difficult at times. Even after 10 years, talking about Alina and revisiting those experiences can bring up a lot of emotions. At the same time, it has been incredibly rewarding. When another parent shares their story with me or tells me that something I’ve shared helped them feel less alone, it reminds me why I continue doing this work.
I think another challenge has been figuring out how to turn that passion into a greater impact. There are so many areas of maternal health that need more awareness, resources, and support, and sometimes I wish I could do more. I’ve been fortunate to connect with some amazing organizations and individuals along the way, but I would love to continue finding opportunities to grow as an advocate, collaborate with others, and help create meaningful change on a larger scale.
I’m still learning and growing in this space, but I’m grateful for where this journey has taken me and excited about where it might lead next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work today is centered around maternal health advocacy, patient engagement, and supporting families navigating.
As a Family Support Specialist with Hand to Hold, I have the opportunity to connect directly with NICU families, offer emotional support, share resources, and provide a listening ear during what can be an incredibly overwhelming time. I’m also involved with Momma’s Voices, where I use my lived experiences to help bring the patient and family perspective into conversations surrounding maternal health and improving care.
I also bring over 10 years of professional experience in healthcare, clinical research, and patient engagement. I think what makes my perspective unique is having experience on both sides of healthcare, professionally and personally. I understand the importance of research, education, and improving healthcare outcomes, but I also know what it’s like to be the mother on the other side of those conversations.
One of my proudest accomplishments this year was helping chair the Houston Promise Walk for Preeclampsia in 2026. Seeing families, survivors, healthcare professionals, and our community come together for a cause that is so personal to me was incredibly meaningful. Knowing we created a space where families could feel supported, honor their babies, and raise awareness about a condition that impacts so many women is something I’ll always be proud of.
But on a more personal level, I think one of my proudest moments was simply walking back into the NICU, this time as a Family Support Specialist. It wasn’t easy returning to an environment that holds so many emotions and memories for me. Being able to walk through those doors and offer support to another parent was a moment I’ll never forget.
I don’t necessarily think of myself as someone who has all the answers, and I don’t believe that’s what families need. Sometimes they just need someone who understands, someone who will listen without judgment, and someone who can sit with them through the uncertainty. That’s what I hope to bring to every family I meet.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but even more excited about the opportunity to continue learning, connecting with others, and making a difference for families in our community and beyond.
How do you define success?
I think my definition of success has changed a lot over the years. While professional accomplishments and reaching personal goals are important to me, I’ve learned that success isn’t always measured by titles, recognition, or how much you accomplish.
Earning my MBA in Healthcare Administration is something I’m incredibly proud of. It was a personal goal of mine, and completing it while balancing motherhood, work, and everything else life brings was a reminder of what I can accomplish when I set my mind to something. I value education and personal growth, and I hope to continue challenging myself both personally and professionally.
But success also looks different to me these days. It’s knowing that I’m making a positive difference, whether that’s helping a parent feel less alone during a difficult NICU stay, raising awareness about preeclampsia, or being part of conversations that can lead to better care for mothers and families. Sometimes the smallest interactions can have the greatest impact.
It’s also about being present for my family, continuing to grow, and creating a life that I’m proud of. I want my children to see the importance of compassion, perseverance, and standing up for something you believe in.
Ultimately, I define success as living with purpose, making meaningful connections, and hopefully leaving things a little better than I found them. If I can continue honoring Alina, inspiring change, and making a difference for other families along the way, that’s success to me.
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