Martavia Brown

In 2015, I gave birth to my beautiful baby. What I didn’t know was that it would be the beginning of a health journey that would change my life forever.

After giving birth, I knew something wasn’t right. For two months, I kept telling my doctors that I was having problems. I was passing large blood clots and felt like I was going through childbirth over and over again every day. Nobody seemed to listen.

Finally, I was able to see a nurse practitioner. I showed her what had been happening, and she immediately ordered an ultrasound. The results showed that part of my placenta had been left behind after delivery. Shortly after that, I had a D&C procedure and thought everything would finally be okay.

A couple of weeks later, I started having severe chest pain and trouble breathing. At the same time, my three-month-old baby was in the ICU. I went to the hospital, and my life changed in an instant. I was diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.

For the next eight years, I did my best to stay healthy. Things were stable, and I continued living my life, raising my children, and trusting God through it all.

Then, in April 2026, my heart took a turn for the worse. My heart function dropped to just 10%, and doctors told me I needed a heart transplant as soon as possible.

The weeks that followed were some of the hardest of my life. I went through multiple procedures and faced several complications while waiting for a donor heart. There were moments when I didn’t know what the outcome would be.

Then on May 28, just two days before my birthday, I got the phone call I had been praying for. A donor heart had become available.

On May 29, I received my new heart.

Since then, I’ve been focused on recovery. I honestly would not have made it this far without God, my family, my church family, and so many people who have shown up for me. My sister came to help care for me and my children. Friends brought meals, offered support, and prayed for me during some of the most difficult days of my life.

While I am incredibly grateful for this second chance, the journey isn’t over. A heart transplant comes with lifelong medical expenses and medications that I must take every day to keep my body from rejecting my new heart.

Just recently, I faced the frightening possibility of not being able to afford one of the medications I need. Without it, my body could reject my transplanted heart. That reality is terrifying.

As hard as it is for me to ask, I’m reaching out for help. Any donation, no matter the amount, will go toward my medications, follow-up appointments, medical bills, and the expenses that come with recovering from a heart transplant.

If you’re unable to donate, I would appreciate your prayers and for you to share my story.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for your kindness, your prayers, and your support. Every little bit truly helps.

A Mother Pushing Through,

Martavia Brown