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And while she at first thought they were normal pregnancy symptoms, they […]","datePublished":"2019-12-05","dateModified":"2022-04-25","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/blog2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/blog2.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/brandy-bonus-50ph\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":338,"keywords":["Ryan Shazier's 50 Phenoms"],"articleBody":"Brandy Sweeney had everything she hoped for: a husband, two sons, and a baby girl on the way. But one of the most exciting times of her life wasn\u2019t going as planned.function load_upmc_video_1_sjkrrqzf(obj,autoplay){window[\"autoplay_1_sjkrrqzf\"]=autoplay;let $this=$(obj),el=document.createElement(\"script\");$this.removeAttr(\"onmouseover\").removeAttr(\"onclick\").html(\"\");el.src=\"https:\/\/cdnapisec.kaltura.com\/p\/5687602\/embedPlaykitJs\/uiconf_id\/53926702\";document.body.appendChild(el);var waiting_1_sjkrrqzf=setInterval(function(){if(window[\"KalturaPlayer\"] !== undefined){clearInterval(waiting_1_sjkrrqzf);try{let kalturaPlayer=KalturaPlayer.setup({targetId:\"kaltura-video_1_sjkrrqzf_6a12455a72e58\",provider:{partnerId:\"5687602\",uiConfId:\"53926702\"},playback:{autoplay:autoplay_1_sjkrrqzf}});kalturaPlayer.loadMedia({entryId:\"1_sjkrrqzf\"});}catch(e){console.error(e);}document.getElementById(\"kaltura-video_1_sjkrrqzf_6a12455a72e58\").dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(\"videoLoad\",{bubbles:true,detail:{\"selector\":\"kaltura-video_1_sjkrrqzf_6a12455a72e58\",\"account_id\":\"5687602\",\"player_id\":\"53926702\",\"video_id\":\"1_sjkrrqzf\",\"autoplay\":\"autoplay_1_sjkrrqzf\"}}));}},10);}After two relatively simple pregnancies, Brandy was dealing with significant symptoms. And while she at first thought they were normal pregnancy symptoms, they eventually became serious enough that she visited the doctor.function load_upmc_video_1_f5lfp42v(obj,autoplay){window[\"autoplay_1_f5lfp42v\"]=autoplay;let $this=$(obj),el=document.createElement(\"script\");$this.removeAttr(\"onmouseover\").removeAttr(\"onclick\").html(\"\");el.src=\"https:\/\/cdnapisec.kaltura.com\/p\/5687602\/embedPlaykitJs\/uiconf_id\/53926702\";document.body.appendChild(el);var waiting_1_f5lfp42v=setInterval(function(){if(window[\"KalturaPlayer\"] !== undefined){clearInterval(waiting_1_f5lfp42v);try{let kalturaPlayer=KalturaPlayer.setup({targetId:\"kaltura-video_1_f5lfp42v_6a12455a79590\",provider:{partnerId:\"5687602\",uiConfId:\"53926702\"},playback:{autoplay:autoplay_1_f5lfp42v}});kalturaPlayer.loadMedia({entryId:\"1_f5lfp42v\"});}catch(e){console.error(e);}document.getElementById(\"kaltura-video_1_f5lfp42v_6a12455a79590\").dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(\"videoLoad\",{bubbles:true,detail:{\"selector\":\"kaltura-video_1_f5lfp42v_6a12455a79590\",\"account_id\":\"5687602\",\"player_id\":\"53926702\",\"video_id\":\"1_f5lfp42v\",\"autoplay\":\"autoplay_1_f5lfp42v\"}}));}},10);}The news that came back \u2013 a rare, but life-threatening pregnancy-related heart failure called peripartum cardiomyopathy \u2013 stunned Brandy. But she was determined not to let it take her away.\u201cI wanted to make certain that my kids grew up with a mom,\u201d Brandy says. \u201cSo I knew I had to fight through the entire process to make certain I was here for them.\u201dIt was a difficult five-month journey, beginning with the birth of her healthy baby girl in August 2014. After medicine didn\u2019t improve her heart function enough, doctors installed a heart-assist device.function load_upmc_video_1_f2ohyha3(obj,autoplay){window[\"autoplay_1_f2ohyha3\"]=autoplay;let $this=$(obj),el=document.createElement(\"script\");$this.removeAttr(\"onmouseover\").removeAttr(\"onclick\").html(\"\");el.src=\"https:\/\/cdnapisec.kaltura.com\/p\/5687602\/embedPlaykitJs\/uiconf_id\/53926702\";document.body.appendChild(el);var waiting_1_f2ohyha3=setInterval(function(){if(window[\"KalturaPlayer\"] !== undefined){clearInterval(waiting_1_f2ohyha3);try{let kalturaPlayer=KalturaPlayer.setup({targetId:\"kaltura-video_1_f2ohyha3_6a12455a801e0\",provider:{partnerId:\"5687602\",uiConfId:\"53926702\"},playback:{autoplay:autoplay_1_f2ohyha3}});kalturaPlayer.loadMedia({entryId:\"1_f2ohyha3\"});}catch(e){console.error(e);}document.getElementById(\"kaltura-video_1_f2ohyha3_6a12455a801e0\").dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(\"videoLoad\",{bubbles:true,detail:{\"selector\":\"kaltura-video_1_f2ohyha3_6a12455a801e0\",\"account_id\":\"5687602\",\"player_id\":\"53926702\",\"video_id\":\"1_f2ohyha3\",\"autoplay\":\"autoplay_1_f2ohyha3\"}}));}},10);}Soon, though, doctors realized she needed a transplant. And after just over a month on the transplant list, Brandy got word that a new heart was ready for her.The surgery, in January 2015, did more than save Brandy\u2019s life: It got her back to her family. Today, she lives with her husband and three children in Point Pleasant, W.Va. She\u2019s also become an advocate for organ donation, making it a part of her already extensive community service.The ordeal gave Brandy a new perspective on how to handle difficult situations.\u201cI would absolutely say to stay positive,\u201d she says. \u201cI think your attitude has a lot to do with the entire situation. I think it has everything to do with how quickly you recover. And my faith was a big part in it all. And I think that people need to rely on their families and just have a good support system and just know that everything\u2019s going to get better.\u201dEditor's Note: This article was originally published on December 5, 2019, and was last reviewed on April 25, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Heart of Gold: Ryan Shazier Talks Faith, Family, and Life-Saving Gifts","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/brandy-bonus-50ph\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]