bag and said, “You’re going to need this.”
The 12-hour surgery was a success. Eight years after her health issues began, and after two years on the transplant list, Williams had a new, strong heart.
She was told her donor was a teenage girl who’d been in a car accident. Williams figured out her identity: 17-year-old Rylee Malone, a high school senior from Texas.
Williams wrote the family to thank them and to tell them that because of their daughter, she would be able to watch Isaiah grow up.
The family wrote back. They continued to exchange letters, then spoke on the phone. In September, on the four-year anniversary of Williams’ transplant, they met in Texas.
Bart Malone listened to his daughter’s heartbeat in Williams’ chest. As he did, Williams said, “It’s strong, huh?”
“It’s strong, it’s so strong,” Malone said through tears.
The meeting felt like closure for Williams. For Malone, it was comforting.
“My wife has a terminal illness, so hearing from Danecia when we did was one of God’s smallest blessings,” he shares. “She is a beautiful young lady and has a beautiful story. We feel like our daughter’s heart is in a good place.”
What is peripartum cardiomyopathy?
According to the American Heart Association, “peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as postpartum cardiomyopathy, is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth. Cardiomyopathy literally means heart muscle disease.”
PPCM is rare in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It affects about 1,000 to 1,300 in the U.S. each year.
Symptoms of the PPCM include:
- Fatigue
- Feeling of heart racing or skipping beats (palpitations)
- Increased nighttime urination (nocturia)
- Shortness of breath with activity and when lying flat
- Swelling of the ankles
- Swollen neck veins
- Low blood pressure, or it may drop when standing up
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
In order to maintain a healthy heart and minimize your risk of developing PPCM, you should avoid cigarettes and alcohol, eat a well-balanced diet and get regular exercise. Women who develop PPCM are also at risk of developing the condition again in future pregnancies, so if you plan on having more children; it is important to consult with your doctors to weigh your risks and come up with a game plan for a safe and healthy pregnancy.
By American Heart Association News