Peripartum cardiomyopathy survivor, Marian Dancy, shares her story of survival and recovery

Experiencing some worrisome symptoms 6 months after the birth of her daughter, Marian Dancy was on a mission for answers. After a series of appointments and being told her symptoms were the result of a virus, or that she was young and healthy and it would pass, she was eventually diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, a form of pregnancy-related heart failure. Not wanting other women to experience what she went through, Marian encourages women to advocate for their health, ask those tough questions, and not take “no” for an answer when they know something is wrong. The following is Marian’s story and not an endorsement or diagnosis. Stories have been edited down for time. Marian is a member of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women 2024 Class of Survivors.