My name is Carianne Marino. I was diagnosed with PPCM, April 12, 2001. The day my daughter Isabella was born.

Around 36 or 37 weeks I started getting sick. My whole body was swelling, I was gaining 5 lbs a week or more. I kept going to the doctor and to the triage unit in the hospital telling them I could not breathe. My Mom had to push me around in a wheelchair. I could not even shower. I felt so sick, I just cried and hoped the baby would come soon. The doctors kept telling me I was fine and the baby was just big…8 lbs 6 ounces at 36 weeks. I knew and my family knew this was not true—something was wrong with me. I started getting to the point where I just knew no one would help me and I succumbed myself to the fact that I might die. My Mom and Dad would not succumb to this and they kept fighting for me. Finally, I thought someone was going to help me when my OB sent me into the hospital for bed rest. At this time my BP was kind of high and my heart rate was 158 resting in bed.

The docs did some! tests and I just cried and told them how I could not lay down or breathe. My bed was too soft. I felt like I needed something hard on my back to help me breathe. I no longer slept and I would just sit up with a fan on me because I was sweating so much. After 3 days in the hospital the docs sent me home telling me it was all my imagination and because OF THE DISCOMFORTS OF THE MOTHER THEY cannot JUST TAKE A BABY! I begged for them to take her, thinking it was PG. that was making me sick and they would not. Finally at 39 weeks I went to the OB. He saw me and new I didn't not feel well, An understatement if you ask me. He said he would induce me…after 16 hours of labor 3 hours of pushing I finally had a C-section and I saw my beautiful 9 lb-3 ounce daughter.

That was the last time I saw her for 2 days. I woke up the that morning and I was wheezing and I could no longer breathe at all. I was FINALLY diagnosed and rushed up to the CCU.

Isabella is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love her with all my heart. I want to live and be healthy for her. I am her MOMMY and she needs me for a very long time. My EF is currently 55% I have been taken off the Lasix and the Coreg. I am still on Vasotec once a day! My doctors are at Temple University in Philadelphia and Doctor Mather is the best! He has been so great and he has helped me so much.

Carianne Marino, Glenside, PA.

My email is carianne01@aol.com Please e mail me anytime