Kristen King, a Maryland mother, received a life-saving heart transplant in September 2023 after her heart began to fail just four months after childbirth. She was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare but serious heart condition that can develop in late pregnancy or shortly after delivery. Initially, her symptoms—fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty eating and drinking—were mistaken for typical postpartum effects, delaying critical care.
King’s condition worsened until her husband insisted she go to the emergency room, where doctors confirmed the life-threatening diagnosis. She remained hospitalized while waiting for a donor, separated from her newborn son, Gage. Her case was described as rare and highly aggressive by Dr. Philip Lamb, a heart failure and transplant cardiologist at Washington Hospital Center.
After 11 hours of surgery, King received a new heart and a second chance at life. She now wears a bracelet in honor of her donor, expressing gratitude for the decision that saved her. “It has allowed me to be a mom every day,” she said, reflecting on how different her family’s life would be if she hadn’t received the transplant.
Now a year and a half into recovery, King cherishes the small moments with her son, embracing the lifelong journey ahead with a new perspective on life.
