DANVILLE, Va. (WDBJ) – Postpartum heart failure is a rare condition that’s typically unexpected for expecting mothers – like one local woman who experienced heart failure after giving birth with no previous heart issues.
“That’s my baby, my little miracle baby,” said Danielle Boaze, local heart disease survivor. “So I was blessed, very blessed to have him.”
It was 2007 when Danielle Boaze gave birth to her son Holden.
Shortly after, she experienced trouble breathing and was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy – an uncommon form of heart failure that is brought on by pregnancy.
“It was very tough. I had a newborn at home and not being able to take care of him like I wanted to at the time was really difficult,” said Boaze.
She was given medication and made a full recovery but was told not to have any more children due to the high risk for cardiac arrest.
“I was so upset hearing what was going on with me and then hearing what the possibilities were with for my future,” added Boaze.
She was taken care of at SOVAH Health where she now works in radiology. It was also there that her dad passed away from a heart attack in 2020.
“He was brought in and was unresponsive and they did everything they could. So, my father was a separate related heart issue, but there’s definitely some heart issues in the family,” explained Boaze.
In March of this year, she decided to go in for a physical to check on her heart. The labs showed her cholesterol levels were very high.
Instead of taking medication, she decided to try and get the levels down naturally.
“It was one of those things like, ‘okay, do you wanna start medicine or do you wanna see what you can do?’ I said, ‘let me try my own, give me a little time,’” said Boaze.
She started eating better and began walking 30 minutes a day.
Today, she’s down 53 pounds and all her levels have returned to normal.
She’s doing it for her miracle baby, who’s now a senior in high school, but most importantly –
“I’m doing it for myself, and I feel so much better. Then my labs, they’re showing it. You can do it if you put the work in. It’s hard, it is so hard, but it’s doable. So, I’m on a little heart health journey right now,” said Boaze.
To support heart disease and stroke survivors, the American Heart Association is hosting three Heart Walks in our hometowns soon.
To sign up for the one in Danville on September 20, click here.
To view the other local Heart Walks, click here.
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