I am looking forward to walking in support of heart health - in particular women's heart health and bringing more awareness to pregnancy-related heart conditions. I am a survivor of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) - a form of heart failure in pregnancy. They say it's rare, but my story is similar to many I have read since - women who had symptoms that were missed or misdiagnosed, even when we tried to speak up.
In 2023, I went in as a seemingly healthy pregnant mom for a scheduled induction to give birth to my first child. 48 hours later, that turned into a C-section, which led to hemorhagging. Luckily, I had a healthy baby boy, but a few days later, I was discharged after the "regular 4-day stay" - even though I was feeling horrible with many symptoms that I know now are signs of PPCM, like shortness of breath, a racing heart, a cough and a crackle in my lungs. After only one night at home and struggling to even walk a few steps, I was re-admitted to the hospital - I had fluid in my lungs, needed 2 bags of blood and was put on oxygen. Initially they thought I might have phnemonia, but after a BNP test that night and echo the next morning, I was diagnosed with PPCM and spent the next 7 nights in the hospital away from the newborn child.
I know I am one of the lucky ones - lucky that I had a healthy, thriving child; and lucky that over 2 years later, I am mostly recovered, on a low dose of meds, and slowly getting back to a "new normal" life. A life focused on being as healthy as I can be - because keeping my heart healthy so I can be here for my son and family as long as I can is my #1 priority in life.
My hope is to bring awareness to other women to know the signs of heart stress and to listen to their bodies; but to also advocate for better preventative care and BNP testing during pregnancy.
Thank you for your support!
-Melanie
