Becoming a mother will always be the most defining moment of my life. I was Blessed to become a mother twice. The privilege of being able to raise my daughter and son to adulthood will never be lost on me. While no two pregnancies are the same, my two blessings could not have entered the world more polar opposite from one another. My first pregnancy with my daughter was a breeze. I had little complications other than severe swelling in my ankles and legs. I was putting on make-up and matching gowns with my baby just hours after my cesarean section. I had a more complicated pregnancy with my son. I had trouble sleeping at night due to coughing when I would lie down. I had an impending feeling of doom the night before my scheduled c-section with my son. So much so that I told my brother that I had written my wishes out and handed them to him. I wanted to be put on a ventilator and life support for one year and one month. If I had no improvement after that time then, only then, could they let me go. I didn't want to leave my babies.
That impending feeling of doom was my body's way of telling me that something was wrong. Three minutes into my c-section I rapidly started deteriorating. My oxygen levels bottomed out in the high 70's. I was essentially drowning on my own fluid. I was 25 years young, and unbeknownst to me, I was suffering from a "rare" pregnancy related form of heart failure.
"Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as postpartum cardiomyopathy, is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery, when no other cause of heart failure can be found. PPCM is most commonly diagnosed in the last month of pregnancy and the weeks following delivery but can occur up to months into the postpartum period. PPCM is diagnosed in individuals without a prior diagnosis of heart disease. Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle disease but is often described as heart muscle weakness." - The American Heart Association.
A normal heart has an ejection fraction (how much your heart pumps out ) anywhere from 50-70%. Upon diagnosis my ejection fraction was 23%. I was very symptomatic leading up to my delivery but oftentimes the symptoms mimic end stage pregnancy symptoms . For this reason many pregnant women think they are normal. Symptoms generally include shortness of breath upon lying flat, or with exertion, and/or swelling in legs and feet.
I found myself fighting for not only my life but the baby boy I was trying to bring into the world. I fought for 19 minutes with everything in me to safely bring him into the world. I begged God to let me raise my babies. I pleaded with the doctors to help me. I begged them to put me to sleep to get me out of my misery from suffocating so bad. Finally, they told me he was here, and he was perfect and then they put me to sleep.
I woke up 13 hours later in CCU, on a ventilator, hands tied to the hospital bed, with a central line placed in my neck. During the early moments immediately following my diagnosis of PPCM I was told things like, " You may never walk across a room while carrying your baby. "You may need a heart transplant." Mortifying stuff for a 25 year old who was expecting the healthy delivery of a bundle of joy.
I was finally able to meet my son for the first time 29 hours later on Valentines Day 2006. He was just as perfect as his sister. My Daddy came in to the critical care unit that Valentine's Day carrying a new pair of tennis shoes for me. He told me that he wanted me to run a marathon in those shoes when I got out of that hospital bed. I didn't run a marathon in them but I was blessed to be able to run my first ever 5k in them. I still have those shoes, almost 20 years later as a reminder of how far I have come. I went on to become a Zumba instructor. I ran two half marathons and countless 5k races. I am able to hike the beautiful hills of Eastern Kentucky that I call home. My favorite form of exercise.
I have been told that I am one of the "lucky" ones. I like to think that I was one of the "chosen" ones. God knew that I would use my experience as a platform to educate others. I was at the perfect place at the perfect time with the perfect anesthesiologist who knew exactly what was happening. I introduced both of the Obstetricians performing my c-section to a crash course into their very first case of Peri-Partum Cardiomyopathy. I have an amazing husband who has been by my side every step of the way. From ensuring that I followed a very strict cardiac diet after diagnosis to traveling three hours each way to every one of my cardiology visits, even now, 20 years later.
Specialty health care in Eastern KY 20 years ago compared to Central KY, unfortunately, was like dark and daylight. I was blessed to be referred to my awesome cardiologist, in Lexington, KY who has been with me since the early days following my diagnosis in 2006. Strides have been made in the form of treatment for PPCM. Life Vests and new heart failure medicines have been introduced since I was diagnosed. BUT, we are STILL losing new mothers to PPCM. Diagnosis is CRUCIAL. How many more new mothers must we lose before a change is made? A simple BNP blood test is life saving, fast and efficient. It has been my mission since my diagnosis in 2006 to raise awareness for my condition. February 13, 2026 marks my 20 year SURVIVOR anniversary from PPCM. I am the Kentucky State Representative for Save the Mommies; A non-profit team of heart sisters who have all survived or been lost to Peripartum cardiomyopathy. I am an advocate for Go Red for Women's Heart Health. I am passionate about telling my story in hopes of saving just one life.
I am truly humbled to have been nominated as a Woman of Impact for the American Heart Association. If you or someone you love has been affected by PPCM or any heart related illness, please consider donating to the American Heart Association to help my cause. No amount is too small. AWARENESS IS EVERYTHING!
Together, we can save lives.
April Herald, Pikeville KY
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Survivor 02/13/2006