LetsTalk PPCM

Eradicating Peripartum Cardiomyopathy|PPCM as a life-threatening pregnancy induced heart condition.

11/14/2025

Shout out to Grey's Anatomy!!!💐 They have highlighted Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) in their latest episode, and while this is huge for awareness, it also reminds us how many moms still go unseen.

PPCM is often misdiagnosed, symptoms are overlooked, and stories aren’t shared widely enough. That’s why awareness is so important. We educate, support, and empower moms to recognize the warning signs, get help early, and share their experiences.

This moment is an opportunity: to amplify survivor voices, to grow awareness, and to make sure no mom feels invisible in her fight against PPCM. Our heart sister community is jumping for joy! ❤️‍🩹

11/13/2025

Meet Christa Marino:
Would you believe that in the photo above, she was in full-blown heart failure.

Residing in Michigan, Christa’s first pregnancy in 2023 was filled with excitement and hope. Her baby was due September 11, but by July, she began experiencing extreme swelling, symptoms that were brushed off as typical pregnancy changes. In August, her blood pressure rose, she rapidly gained weight, and breathing while lying flat became difficult. On August 18, she suffered a placental abruption and required an emergency C-section. During surgery, she went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to the ICU.

Doctors soon 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. After a week in the hospital, she was sent home on multiple heart medications. Three months later, on November 22, she began feeling sick and went to the ER. She was told it was pneumonia, but things quickly took a terrifying turn. She went into cardiogenic shock and suffered three cardiac arrests.

A Lucas device was used to keep her alive until she could be connected to ECMO life support. Her family was told she might not survive. The next day, she coded again while on ECMO and was placed on an Impella device for additional heart support. After eight days on life support, her heart miraculously began to recover. Just before Christmas, she was discharged and finally reunited with her baby girl.

Today, Christa lives with an ICD defibrillator and continues daily heart medications. Her heart function has improved but remains at 35%, and there’s still a chance she may need a transplant in the future. She believes the BNP Blood Test should be mandated for all expecting and postpartum mothers at risk, to sooner detect PPCM. ❤️‍🩹

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

PPCM Workshops: https://letstalkppcm.org/ppcm-workshops

The MAGAZINE: https://letstalkppcm.org/magazine

Support BNP Blood Testing: https://letstalkppcm.org/ppcm-screening

11/09/2025

Hope & Healing Giveaway! 🎁

November is all about gratitude and giving, LetsTalkPPCM is thrilled to bless 5 PPCM heart moms and their families with a special gift of support.

🫀 What is PPCM?
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare form of heart failure that can occur during the last month of pregnancy or within months after delivery. Many women are misdiagnosed, so raising awareness saves lives.

Early testing and education make a difference, and that’s what our mission is all about.

✨ How to Enter:

1️⃣ Follow on Instagram or Facebook

2️⃣ Apply through our Financial Assistance Page https://LetsTalkPPCM.org/financial-support

3️⃣ Share this post to spread PPCM awareness!

🗓 Deadline to Apply: November 22, 2025
🏆 Winners Announced: November 23, 2025
📦 Gifts Shipped: November 24, 2025

Applicants must be diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and provide proof of diagnosis to qualify.

11/05/2025

Meet Katie Farley:
Would you believe that in the photo above, she was in full-blown heart failure.

Residing in Minnesota, Katie’s pregnancy was filled with excitement and anticipation. At 39 weeks, she was scheduled for a C-section due to her baby’s size, and on May 21, 2017, she welcomed a healthy baby girl. Soon after delivery, she faced a series of complications: preeclampsia, severe blood loss, abdominal hematomas, and a second surgery. Despite experiencing shortness of breath, chest pressure, and overwhelming fatigue, she brushed it off as “normal” postpartum recovery. Like so many moms, she assumed these symptoms came with the territory of new motherhood.

But things took a frightening turn when she could no longer breathe lying flat. She returned to the ER, where doctors discovered she was in heart failure. The diagnosis: Postpartum 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. Fluid had built up around her heart, lungs, and extremities, and immediate treatment was needed to save her life. With proper medication, diuretics, and cardiac rehabilitation, she began her road to recovery. In just six months, her heart function improved from 30–35% to 60–65%, showing the power of early detection and proper care.

Katie’s message is simple but powerful:

❤️ Listen to your body, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fatigue are not normal.

❤️ Early detection saves lives.

❤️ Postpartum health matters more than ever.

“PPCM is often called the silent killer because it hides behind symptoms that seem routine, ”Katie shared.“

Today, Katie is considered fully recovered. She now raises awareness and feels the BNP Blood Test should be mandated for all expecting and postpartum mothers at risk, to sooner detect PPCM.

Visit: https://letstalkppcm.org/share-your-story-1 to share your PPCM story while helping increase awareness.

PPCM Workshops: https://letstalkppcm.org/ppcm-workshops

The MAGAZINE:
https://letstalkppcm.org/magazine

Support BNP Blood Testing: https://letstalkppcm.org/ppcm-screening

11/03/2025

UPDATE: Thank you all so much for your incredible interest in the PPCM Survivor Study through the University of South Carolina College of Nursing! The research team has now reached their full number of participants, so the study is no longer accepting new applicants at this time.

We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to apply and share your stories, your voices truly make a difference in PPCM awareness and research. We’ll continue to share future opportunities as they become available.

ORIGINAL: Calling all PPCM heart momma's!❤️‍🩹

Let’s Talk PPCM is proud to support new research led by the University of South Carolina focused on recovery experiences among PPCM survivors. This study seeks to understand how social and community factors impact our healing and well-being,and your voice matters!

📌 Participants will take part in a one-time virtual interview and receive a $50 gift card as a thank-you for sharing their story.

Participation is voluntary and confidential.

If you’re a PPCM survivor interested in being part of this important research, please see the flyer for details on how to join.

🌿 In addition, if you’re a mom currently unable to donate but still wish to take part in supporting others, you can now sign up for our Hope & Healing Fund. This initiative helps connect moms who need encouragement or small assistance with those who can give, every bit of compassion counts.

Together, we heal. Together, we raise awareness.

P.S. If you are ineligible at this time and would like to be considered for future research opportunities, you can email, Curisa M. Tucker, PhD, RN directly at tuckercm@mailbox.sc.edu

Sending love and healing to all of you! 💐

10/30/2025

Meet Brooke Pizzano-Diamond:
Would you believe that in the photo above, she was in full-blown heart failure.

Residing in Maryland, Brooke always knew her pregnancy would be high-risk. She had a heart condition from a young age and already had a pacemaker, but she was hopeful and focused on bringing her baby into the world safely. Throughout her pregnancy, she often felt sick, but she assumed it was normal. Around her second trimester, an echocardiogram was ordered, and everything came back normal, giving her reassurance to keep pushing forward.

As her pregnancy progressed, she started swelling more than usual and often felt short of breath. She delivered a healthy baby boy, but the postpartum period was tougher than she expected. She felt exhausted, anxious, and constantly out of breath, yet assumed it was all part of adjusting to life as a new mom. A few months later, she tried to get back into shape. Simple activities like hiking or even light exercise caused her heart rate to spike and triggered panic attacks. She didn’t understand what was happening and tried to rationalize it, hoping it was temporary.

Then came the shocking moment. During a routine pacemaker check, Brooke’s doctor called her that evening with devastating news: she was in heart failure. She soon met with a heart failure specialist who explained Postpartum 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, Brooke is still on her road to recovery, and her heart is showing signs of improvement. She feels the BNP Blood Test should be mandated for all expecting and postpartum mothers at risk, to sooner detect PPCM.❤️

Visit: https://letstalkppcm.org/share-your-story-1 to share your PPCM story while helping increase awareness.

PPCM Workshops: https://letstalkppcm.org/ppcm-workshops

The MAGAZINE:
https://letstalkppcm.org/magazine

Support BNP Blood Testing: https://letstalkppcm.org/ppcm-screening

10/25/2025

Thank you, AWHONN - The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, North Carolina!

The LetsTalkPPCM team would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the AWHONN North Carolina Section for inviting us to the 2025 North Carolina Section Conference. It was an honor to have our founder, Brianna Henderson, share her keynote story and the mission behind LetsTalkPPCM, raising awareness, education, and early detection for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

A special thank you to our heart sister, Heather Vess, a fellow PPCM survivor and advocate, for her continued support and for helping create space for this vital conversation. Your strength and passion make such a difference in the lives of mothers and families across the state.

Together, we are bridging the gap between patients and providers, turning awareness into action, and saving lives, one heartbeat at a time. Thank you all for those who continue to support our mission.❤️‍🩹

10/24/2025

Today, our founder, Brianna D. Henderson, will deliver her first-ever Keynote Address before healthcare professionals across the State of North Carolina. This moment is more than an opportunity, it’s a reflection of faith, resilience, and divine purpose.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our heart sister, Heather Vess and AWHONN for believing that Brianna’s journey is one worth sharing, a story that continues to inspire hope, compassion, and awareness around Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Her keynote, “Be Careful What You Ask For,” will take listeners through an intimate journey of loss, faith, and purpose, reminding us that even through life’s hardest seasons, God’s plans are always working for our good.

This month holds special meaning for Brianna. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time that once brought deep pain but now carries peace and reflection. She honors the memory of her mother, who bravely battled breast cancer, and her beloved sister Crystal, whose birthday month is celebrated with love and remembrance. Both women’s strength and grace continue to live through Brianna’s purpose and voice.

As Brianna often says, “Every tear, every prayer, and every pause had purpose.”

We at LetsTalkPPCM are proud to celebrate our founder’s courage, her unwavering faith, and her mission to bring awareness to PPCM, turning pain into purpose and purpose into power.💗

Address

PO Box 530242
Grand Prairie, TX
75053

Website

https://letstalkppcm.org/

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