Kate Albrecht and Joey Zehr, the dynamic duo behind the popular Mr. Kate YouTube channel and doting parents to their six-year-old son Moon, have opened up about a harrowing health crisis that unfolded after welcoming their second child into the world. On May 22nd, their daughter Mars was born, marking a joyous occasion marred by an unexpected medical emergency that tested the limits of their strength and resilience.
After weeks of maintaining a mostly offline presence, Kate, 43, and Joey, also 43, shared the tumultuous journey they embarked upon in the eight weeks following Mars' home birth in Hawaii. While the birth itself was a serene affair—a particularly cherished moment for Kate, who was eager to experience natural childbirth after her C-section with Moon—their serenity was shattered two weeks later.
"I was utterly exhausted and in agonizing pain," Kate recounted in an interview with People, published on July 18th. "I remember thinking, 'This is supposed to be easier. I was told recovery from a natural birth would be smoother than from surgery,' but I was confined to bed."
Despite repeated reassurances from their doctor, Kate sensed that something was amiss. Her suspicions were grimly confirmed when she visited a friend's house and began to feel unwell. "My thoughts became cloudy, and before I knew it, I couldn't think coherently anymore," she recalled. "My friend tucked me into bed, and that's where my memory fades into darkness."
Kate's friend promptly called Joey, who rushed to her side only to find her condition had deteriorated drastically: she was unconscious, with blood trickling from her mouth. "I leaped onto the bed, shouting her name, but she wouldn't respond," Joey shared. "Kate started suffering seizures in the room; it was heart-wrenching to witness."
Fortuitously, a film crew was shooting a movie outside, and Joey quickly sought help from the on-set medic, who diagnosed Kate with eclampsia—a rare condition where pregnant or postpartum women suddenly experience seizures, which can strike up to six weeks after delivery, according to Yale Medicine.
After enduring a seizure in bed and another in the ambulance en route to the hospital, Kate was intubated. "By then, she had slipped into a medical coma," Joey recounted.
Hours passed, along with numerous medical tests, until Kate awoke the next morning. She was eventually discharged from the hospital, having spent a day in the ICU before being transferred back to the labor and delivery ward. Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the couple wished they had been warned about the risk of developing such conditions.
"We were well-informed about many aspects of childbirth," Joey said. "Yet, we had no clue that two weeks postpartum, we should be vigilant for preeclampsia and eclampsia." He added, "We were prepared for everything except for what actually happened."
Now, several weeks later, the couple is finally breathing a sigh of relief as life returns to normal. "My family is doing well. They're thriving," Kate shared. "My baby is thriving too. She's perfectly fine, and I'm improving every single day."
