LetsTalk PPCM

Meet Kateara Carr:
By looking at the photo above, could you believe she was in full-blown heart failure?

As a soon-to-be teenage mom, Kateara had no idea about the serious heart complications that can occur during pregnancy or after giving birth.

Her pregnancy went smoothly until 38 weeks, when her obstetrician detected an irregular heartbeat in her unborn baby. She was scheduled for an induction the following week, but went into labor naturally and delivered a healthy baby girl.

Just two weeks postpartum, she noticed her stomach had become unusually swollen and she was becoming increasingly short of breath. One evening, she dropped her baby's bottle and was too weak to pick it up, needing to call her grandmother for help. She continued to push through the symptoms until the next day, when severe stomach pain and repeated vomiting of clear fluid sent her to the hospital.

After undergoing multiple tests, a doctor told her, "You are very sick. If you hadn't come in today, you probably would have died."

She was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that can strike during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum, often with life-threatening consequences if left undetected. PPCM weakens the heart muscle, causing it to enlarge and lose its ability to pump blood effectively throughout the body.

After two weeks of treatment, she was discharged home on medication. Two years later, because her ejection fraction remained at just 25%, she received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to help protect her from life-threatening heart rhythms.

Today, Kateara continues her recovery journey while courageously raising awareness so other mothers can recognize the warning signs and seek help sooner.

Visit https://letstalkppcm.org/share-your-story-1 to share your PPCM story and help raise awareness.

Congratulations to our Heart Sister, Geraldine, on reaching her fundraising goal through our new Let'sTalkPPCM Fundraising Program!! 🏆🎉🎁

We're honored to present her with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her generosity, dedication, and commitment to our mission.

Geraldine's own journey with PPCM is one of remarkable resilience. Diagnosed with an ejection fraction of just 10%, she faced incredible uncertainty. Through faith, perseverance, and the care of her medical team, she continued moving forward, becoming the proud mother of two and an inspiration to so many Heart Sisters along the way.

Because of supporters like her, we're able to provide PPCM education, awareness materials, and free resources to mothers, families, patients, and healthcare professionals.

Thank you to every donor who contributed. 💗

Every fundraiser, every shared story, every donation, and every act of kindness helps us reach another mother who may be searching for answers, hope, or simply someone who understands.

If you've ever thought about celebrating a birthday, milestone, or special occasion by giving back, we'd love to have you join our fundraising program in the future.

Learn more: https://letstalkppcm.org/fundraising

Meet Katie:
By looking at the photo above, could you believe she was in full-blown heart failure?

Residing in Ohio, at 29 weeks pregnant, Katie learned she had preeclampsia. She was induced at 37 weeks and welcomed her son September 2025. Just 5 days postpartum, she began experiencing symptoms she thought were a bad cold. She had extreme fatigue, slept most of the day, and had no appetite. But soon, something felt much more serious. Every time she tried to lay down, she struggled to breathe.

Eventually, she became so short of breath that she could barely walk or sit up comfortably. After her husband and mom encouraged her to seek medical attention, she went to the emergency room. Because of the long wait, she initially left, but returned hours later by ambulance when her symptoms worsened.

During the ambulance ride, her blood pressure was found to be in the 200s. Once medical staff learned she was only 5 days postpartum, her condition was taken more seriously. After hours of evaluation, doctors debated whether she needed the ICU or labor and delivery care. She was ultimately admitted to the ICU, where she received care and treatment while doctors worked to stabilize her. She was later transferred to where she spent nearly a week receiving specialized care.

During that time, doctors worked to remove excess fluid, manage her blood pressure, and determine the right medications for her heart. She was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) ), a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that can strike during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum, often with life-threatening consequences if left undetected.

Today, Katie is still on her road to recovery. She believes that early BNP testing and echocardiograms at the first signs of symptoms could help prevent stories like hers and potentially save mothers’ lives.

Visit https://letstalkppcm.org/share-your-story-1 to share your PPCM story and help raise awareness.

Every survivor’s story has the power to educate, raise awareness, and help save lives. 🚒🫀🚑

We're highlighting the experiences of heart moms who called 911 because of symptoms related to Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), whether it was before receiving a diagnosis or after diagnosis.

These stories help increase awareness among EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, emergency department teams, and other first responders who are often the first to care for mothers experiencing a maternal cardiac emergency.

By sharing your experience, you can help others better understand:

• The warning signs and symptoms of PPCM

• What it’s like to seek emergency care

• The challenges survivors face before and after diagnosis

• The importance of timely recognition and compassionate care

If you would like your story to be featured, please visit https://letstalkppcm.org/share-your-story-1. Stories may be shared with your permission or anonymously as part of ongoing awareness and education efforts.

Together, we can improve maternal cardiac emergency recognition, one story at a time.

Every mother deserves the chance to have her symptoms recognized before it's too late. 🫶🏼

Because of the incredible generosity of our community, 51 Maternal Cardiac Safety Resource Kits have now been placed in the hands of those caring for mothers.

To everyone who has sponsored a kit or made a donation, thank you from the bottom of our recovering hearts. Your kindness is helping expand maternal heart health education and raise awareness of PPCM, one kit at a time.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare form of heart failure that develops during pregnancy or within the months after childbirth. Because its symptoms, such as shortness of breath, swelling, extreme fatigue, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty lying flat, can resemble normal pregnancy and postpartum changes, PPCM is often overlooked.

If you haven't had the opportunity to support yet, we're simply grateful you're here.

Every donation, every sponsored kit, and every share of our mission helps us reach more pregnancy centers, healthcare providers, and families with educational resources that can make a difference.

Thank you for standing with us as we educate, empower, and advocate for mothers and families.

To learn more visit: https://letstalkppcm.org/resource-kits

Remember: Grab a heart bracelet to help support Early Detection by visiting HeartMomPPCM.Com

Meet Marisa Harrington:
By looking at the photo above, could you believe she was in full-blown heart failure?

During her first pregnancy, Marisa felt healthy, but as the months passed she developed severe swelling and rapid weight gain despite eating very little and staying active. Although the symptoms were concerning, she assumed everything would improve after delivery. At 37 weeks, she was induced due to preeclampsia and welcomed her son, Henry. While she was overjoyed to become a mother, the swelling never went away.

Just 4 days postpartum, she developed severe shortness of breath and dangerously high blood pressure. An emergency room visit revealed that her heart and lungs were failing, and she was immediately admitted to the hospital. Instead of celebrating her 30th birthday at home, she spent it alone in the hospital, separated from her newborn because of COVID restrictions.

Doctors diagnosed her with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that can strike during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum, often with life-threatening consequences if left undetected. Her ejection fraction had fallen to approximately 45%, and aggressive treatment removed 35 pounds of excess fluid in just three days. Recovering from heart failure while learning to care for a newborn was one of the most difficult seasons of her life.

Today, Marisa has made an incredible recovery. She is off her heart medications, continues regular follow-up with her cardiologist, and has even been cleared for a future pregnancy with close monitoring. She believes that early BNP testing and echocardiograms at the first signs of symptoms could help prevent stories like hers and potentially save mothers’ lives.

Visit https://letstalkppcm.org/share-your-story-1 to share your PPCM story and help raise awareness.

Congratulations to Our PPCM Awareness Bracelet Winners! 🏆❤️

Today, we're celebrating 10 amazing supporters who were randomly selected to receive a PPCM Awareness Bracelet, generously provided by HeartMomPPCM!

To our winners, thank you for standing with us in the fight to raise awareness of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and maternal heart health. Your support helps spread hope, encourage conversations, and remind families that they are never alone.

📧 If you were selected, please email your full mailing address to: [email protected]

Didn't win this time?

You can still be part of the mission! By grabbing a PPCM Awareness Bracelet from HeartMomPPCM.com, you're helping support:

•Increased awareness of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM)

•Efforts to expand BNP blood testing initiatives for earlier recognition of maternal heart complications

•Education for mothers, families, and healthcare professionals

•Advocacy that helps save lives through awareness and early detection

Every bracelet is more than an accessory, it's a conversation starter, a symbol of hope, and a reminder that together we can make a difference for mothers everywhere.

Thank you for being part of this mission. Until the next giveaway.💝 https://letstalkppcm.org

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