In 2016, I went into labour and, during a frightening and traumatic 38 hours, I was eventually given an emergency c-section. During this c-section, my heart was struggling, and I was suffering heart failure. Happily, I gave birth to my beautiful, healthy, baby girl and, despite being very poorly myself, I was so happy to be a Mummy. With drugs to help my heart and a diagnosis of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, I had to get used to being a new mum and having a heart condition. I have spent the last 5 and a half years, to and fro to hospital appointments, and on, an incredibly long and hard journey. Heart specialists now understand that my Cardiomyopathy was pre-existing to pregnancy and labour. I am so lucky, my Cardiomyopathy does not massively impact my daily life. However, it has had an impact on our family in other ways. Many women with PPCM suffer a massive impact to their day to day lives and, when I recently got in touch with Cardiomyopathy UK, I chatted on the phone with one of those very women.

So why am I running? During the first lockdown, when COVID hit, I went on a very personal journey to improve my health, fitness and mental well-being and, also with the hope, that more exercise, would slightly improve my heart function. Having never run in my entire life (having walked Race for Life in the past) I started a Couch to 5K. I worked hard. I persevered. I found it hard but I wanted so much to run. I started to run 5K’s a couple of times a week. I was so proud of myself. By the second lockdown, I had the running bug! Run Reigate will be my first ever 10K!!! I am so nervous but so proud of myself. I have survived. Literally. I am doing this run for Cardiomyopathy UK because I want to raise awareness of Cardiomyopathy. For all those people - men, women and children who have a Cardiomyopathy. I particularly want to run for all those Mummies who have PPCM, who suffer daily with symptoms. For those families who lost a loved one to PPCM. For all those children who lost a Mummy.

PPCM Facts;

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (or PPCM) happens during pregnancy, usually starting between the final
month of pregnancy and the first five months after giving birth. In PPCM the woman’s heart becomes enlarged and its pumping action weakened. 

PPCM is similar to dilated cardiomyopathy, in that it affects the left ventricle of the heart. This is the main pumping chamber of the heart: pumping blood out of the heart and to the rest of the body. 

PPCM is rare. Figures vary, but it is thought to affect around 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 10,000 women or 1 in every 2000 women who give birth. Although it can affect women at any age, it seems to be more common in those over 30.