Eric and Steph: Aedan is 2yrs 7 months Brennen is 5 months
Brandy: Brittani is 6 and Brooke is 2
Claire: One daughter, Courtney who is 6
Robin: Tyler is 8 years old and Ashley is 6
Rachel: Payton Elizabeth. She's 16 months
Cara: Holly who is ten, Sarah who is three and Katie who is 4 months

Age/Race/Location/# of kids (
posted by mom2gageandkeely)

Mom2gageandkeeley: I'm 23, caucasian, Lewisville Texas(GO Dallas Mavericks!!!), Blessed with 2 kids Gage 4 and Keeely 6months
ChristinaW: My name is Christina and I am 20 years old now,19 when I was diagnosed. I am caucasian, I live in Montana and I have 1 son. Tehrin Kail, almost 16 months.It is my belief that this is taking place in younger women all the time. My upbringing was pritty poor I think this had something to do with my condition. I actually have Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy, we believe this heart condition was pre existing. Anyhow good luck.
Rputz2: My name is Robin Putney, i am from Michigan. I am caucasian, i was 25 when diagnosed and know i am 31. I have 2 kids Tyler 8 and Ashley 6. i had toxiema with both. Joie16: Hello,I am 27. I have one child, Joshua - 2 months. I am Filipino. I was diagnosed 10 days after birth.
EH136781: I am Steph, 29, caucasian, California, 2 kids
Clairevoyant123: My name is Claire. I live in England. I was 20 when I was diagnosed with ppcm, I am now 26. I have one daughter who will be 6 in 3 weeks. I have had a good up bringing and no problems until my pregnancy. My dad died of viral cardiomyopathy and I was told that ours were not connected but I am not convinced.
India: I am 28 (27 when diagnosed), Caucasian, Houston TX, one little girl 7 months old
Brandylee: I'm 22 - 20 at diagnosis, I am caucasian, we live in Oklahoma, and I have two baby girls, Brittani who is 6 and Brooke who is 2. I grew up in a middle class family and was never big on drugs, etc. My first birth the baby came all by herself (slowly) and the second one came with pitocin and cervadil... it was an even longer process. I had an epidural with the first and a spinal (they suck) with the second one.My blood pressure was outrageously high, like 200 something over 180 something when I delivered - I am 5'4 and 110 pounds - 98 pounds is my pre pregnancy birth wait with both children - but I like being 110 - I don't look like such a skeleton
Khrystee: hi i am new to the board. i am 35. i am caucasian i have 4 babies here with me and 1 in heaven born full term. ages 11 8 5 baby died at 9 days old and a 2 month old.
KathyM: I'm 32, was diagnosed at 30, I am caucasian, and have two sweet girls, Kristina 4 and Melissa 22 months.
Caramommy: I'm Cara Randall, 32, I'm caucasian, live in a country area called Milan, Indiana USA and have three daughters...Holly (10), Sarah (3) and Kathleen [Katie] (5 months). I was diagnosed about three months after the baby was born. There are no heart problems in my family at all. Everyone lives to be in their 90's unless they are smoking a lot. I have had a great background with lots of healthcare and good country food. I have no idea why any of this happened. I was a very strong woman since I worked on the farm. I do have polycystic ovarian syndrome, but I don't think that has a thing to do with it.
Jamie: I am Jamie Wilhoit. I live in Cartersville, Georgia. Had a stressful childhood but was fed and clothed. I have two babies. Dillon Robert (2 years) and Elijah Mason (6 months). Dillon was induced because he was small (4 pounds 11 ounces at 38 weeks.) Eli's birth started naturally but had pitocin. He was 8 pounds 9 ounces at 37 weeks. I am white and I am 24. Was 23 when diagnosed.
RachelPB:Rachel Baker, caucasian, 31 at diagnosis,Calhoun, GA, Payton - 17 months old!
CarianneM: Let's see I am caucasion, I am 28, 27 at diagnosis. I was brought up in an upper middle class family in the suburbs of Phila. I never did any drugs, other than smoking some pot in highschool and college. I partied and drank occasionally when I was single with out my baby Bella
I have one daughter Isabella Grace she is 10 mos old.
Elizabeth: Elizabeth, Caucasian, Nashville,Tennessee- USA,!st time I was 22 in 1988, 2nd diagnosis I was 35 in Sept. 2001 .
Meg09: My name is Megan. I was 26 when I was diagnosed. I am now 27. I am Caucasian. I grew up in Glenview, Illinois. I currently live in Tucson, Arizona. I have a son who is 6 months old. I have never smoked or drank in my life. I had a great pregnancy with the exception of high blood pressure that was mild and very controlled ( I took medication during pregnancy). I was induced at 37.5 weeks due to my hypertension. I had a fever during the last part of delivery. My labor was 20 1/2 hours. .
Kabernet: Hi. I was 35 when diagnosed immediately following delivery. I have wonderful twin girls, now aged 2, Claire and Marisa -- I can't get enough of them! I live in California and am caucasion. No heart history in my family at all. Was on bedrest and preterm labor drugs for last three months of pregnancy
GABarb34: My daughter was 17 when she gave birth 9-2000. She is white and only has the one child. I truly believe that the hole in her heart that we were not aware of manifested itself and resulted in heart failure due to her pregnancy. In "true" cases of PPCM it is rare and unpredictable but sometimes there was already a problem and it just manifests during pregnancy. Christy lives in Louisville Kentucky but she is originally from Georgia
Kristinjanue: 26, Caucasion, Did take speed, ectasy and pot when I was a teenager but that was years ago. I guess it could have weakened my heart and made me more susceptible to getting ppcm.One baby daughter. Had pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure at the end of my pregnancy, also had a fever during labour. I'm sure it was the pre-elampsia that caused it. Got the news last week that my heart has recovered. I hope I can have another baby
Lisa Velcovich: Hi, my name is Lisa and I was diagnosed at the age of 33 now am 35. I live in Trenton NJ but grew up in Old Bridge NJ, raised as a middle class family, had an excellent childhood. Was born with 2 holes in my heart and had open heart surgery at the age of 8. My first pregnancy was nothing out of the ordinary and delivered a 7 lb 8 oz baby girl named Hailey Marie. Hailey was 6 1/2 months old when she was diagnosed with an AV Canal defect, basically she was missing the whole inside of her heart, she had surgery but never made it throught postup. The doctors are now telling me it is heritatory, having a 10% chance of having children with a heart defect as minor as mine or has major as Hailey's was. They also believe that me having PPCM is related somehow, the stress of having another baby with some type of heart problem and the problem of infertility drugs, which was about 4 years
Cwmayhem: 32- just barely 31 at diagnosis, caucasian, my 18 month old son Nicholas- the light of my life, Brookfield, IL

Favorite High Sodium Food?

Brandy: Mine is Pickles, lol. I have been able to eat my weight in them all my life, JK. I like them regular, fried, chocolate dipped, baked, you name it, I will eat it - Dill only though!
RPutz2: I also love pickles. I would be able to eat a jar at a time. Also only Dill!
Jamie: Gosh, there are so many. I told the dr. he could take away choc. easier than salt. I also love pickles (only dill, hate em sweet). But I also love lemons covered in salt. And if I ever drink, I only like margaritas...not without salt. I like them without alcohol, but if I can't have the salt, what's the point? I never drink...even before having kids I would only drink about twice a year and even then I would share a margarita with my husband. Oh well. The dr. said when I get my all clear, a non-alcoholic one even with salt would be okay to celebrate!!
Caramommy: For me it would be more of a favorite meal. I miss going and having a Kentucky Fried Chicken meal with the cole slaw and biscuits and macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The whole meal is bound to be WAY too much, even if I don't eat anything the rest of the day
KathyM: I am very bad at following a low sodium diet. They kind of lifted it though after they took me off the lastix and I was fine. But when I was on it, I really really missed pizza and Pizza huts breadsticks. I hate pickles but dh loves them, only sweet though, and I can them every summer from the cucs in our garden
Mom2gageandkeeley: I love salt covered potatoes of any kind! After Gage I stayed on my sodim diet very well until I was off meds. My cardiologist must be leaner tha all of yours, I was only on meds until my EF when up then I stopped them cold turkey. She lifetd my reduced sodium too and when I got pregnant again she said I didn't have to go back on it unless I had problems again. I still don't salt my food though, I'm used to it plain.
Lisa Velcovich:This is a really hard question for me to answer since I love everything with salt. I think I would have to say MUNCHIE foods, such as Doritos, Cheese Doodles, Popcorn you name it I ate it. I still it them now but in moderation. If I am having a really low day of salt then I know I can have a treat and not worry about the salt. I am on a low sodium diet but I eat what I want and just make sure I drink plenty of fluids
ChristinaW: Hello there, interesting question, how many different foods do you think one person could name,I'll bet I could name about a cupboard full of foods I would just love to eat. I also really like dill pickels, but I think I would have to say I have been eating lemons with salt on them for so long it almost hurts to not be able to do so. I am also a huge fan of soup, i'm not sure how the low sodium stuff tastes yet, 50 mg in one can, but I bought some so we'll see.
RachelPB: I miss DORITOS!!!!

What are the top 5 best things in life?

Brandy: In no particular order: #1 Watching my 6 year old dance in ballet and tap - she is working on a 2nd grade level in Kindergarten, and it just isn't a challenge for her at school, but Ballet makes her shine because she has to TRY to do it. #2 Therman and Brittani leaving for school and work & Brooke still being asleep.... and the feel of the sheets and warm blankets as I jump back into that big ole bed, all by myself, #3 Realizing that I made an error in the check book in MY favor (hee hee, last time I gained $113) #4. Checking on my little girls in the middle of the night, and finding them still breathing, peacefully. #5 being able to take a breath - a full breath, no blood or fluids blocking the way, nothing heavy on my chest Golly, I can think of a WHOLE lot of more good things in my life, but these are the ones I always think about, lol
Mom2gageandkeeley: #1 Seeing my son kiss my daughter on the head and sing her nusrery ryhmes (he's 4 she's 6 months) #2 Knowing that I've been given so many blessings and second chances...#3My husband (that says it all)#4 Chocolate!!(Sorry i'm addicted) #5 Being a mommy, it just has so many rewards
Cara: #1 Being a mom! #2 Being a wife to a wonderful man! #3 Creating in just about any medium, sculpting, sewing, handspinning...you name it! #4 Being blessed with getting better from this disease. #5 The great outdoors and camping
RachelPB: #1 Payton #2Husband and supportive family (in-laws included) #3 Crossword puzzles #4 Auburn Football (for those that keep up - I know we stunk last year, but I still love them) #5Beta blockers and Ace inhibitors
Rachel: Payton Elizabeth. She's 16 months
CarianneM: #1 Isabella, #2 laying in bed and reading with Isabella after work and baths and dinner #3 My family (parents, siblings aunts uncles and everyone who was there for me when I needed them) #4 The Ya YA's my best friends since kindergarten Vaness, Trish and Meg #5. My house even though my kitchen isn't how I want it yet
Jamie:I don't know where to start....Yes I do. #1. God...my salvation and my second chance at life. #2. My two beautiful healthy children and my newly baptized husband. All the family that cared and I didn't know it. #3. The things my two year old teaches me. Last night, lying in bed, he reached over and covered me up like I always do him. I just started crying which is something I haven't done in a long time. #4. The awesomeness of the sunset and sunrise and oceans and the smell of grass and the sound of my babies laughing (all things I took for granted but almost never saw again.) #5. Mysteries of things to come. I now HAVE to believe that I will be around for a very long time...to see my kids graduate and get married and make me a grandma!!
Lacey: #1.calvin (both of them), #2. going to the doctor every tuesday and getting the iv put in me and getting dobutamine that Makes me so NORMAL.. like i am not sick..#3. seeing little calvin using his little potty chair for the 1st time. #4. CANDY( love it), #5. my family being so supportive and my lovely b/f calvin.