I have read all of your stories and have so much admiration for each of you remarkable women.

My daughter Christy is 18 and has PPCM. She was diagnosed in Nov. 2000 and her baby turned one in Sept 2001. Christy was induced Sept 15, 2000 and had a pretty easy delivery. I remember her looking pale and swollen in the delivery room and she was coughing. Her main concern was making the baby sick. She and Danielle were released 48 hours after delivery. I was not able to stay with her but a couple of days after she got home because I had come a couple of days prior to her delivery so I'd be sure to be there for her. I live in Georgia and she lives in Louisville KY.

The next two months were tough she called me everyday with a different problem of some sort. Her cough continued and sleeping was impossible for her, I kept telling her to go to the doctor. She took a cab and went to the hospital the chest x-ray showed fluid and she was diagnosed with pneumonia given cough medicine with codeine and a strong anti-biotic.

A week later she called me and said she was worse than ever and that she and the baby were going to the hospital. She said she was coughing up blood and that she could hear a crackling noise. It was early in the morning and she was taking the baby to be sure she was not sick as well. I was frantic waiting to hear something. I spoke to a nurse who told me that Christy was a very sick girl and that she was in CHF, had an enlarged heart a hole in her heart and a murmur. It was nearly 9PM that night before the cardiologist came in with the diagnosis. I had called my bosses son who was in seminary in Louisville Ky to go and be with Christy. He said the doctor was excellent, actually getting up in the bed with her and explaining everything in terms she could understand. Christy was just glad that she wasn't going to die right away if at all.

Her EF is 35-40 and she takes Coreg, Digoxen, and Altace her next echo is Jan 2002 and I plan on being there. She was denied disability and recently started a job. She walks to work in the cold a mile there works 9 hours and walks a mile home. I am worried but proud that she is a good mother and doing what she has to do to make ends meet. I wish she would come back home but I will not add to the stress she already experiences. She is beautiful and so is the baby. Christy has gone from 95 to about 100 lbs and is looking healthier these days. I hope all of you are doing well and I will stay in touch.

Barbara Hatcher