While some people find themselves with cardiovascular disease due to their lifestyle, certain health conditions, age and a family history with such conditions, others are born with heart disease. According to the CDC, congenital heart disease occurs in one percent of all births, and they’re the most common birth defect.
Naomi James, 34, a nurse and mom from Vail, Ariz., was born with congenital heart disease. At just a fragile three months old, she had her first open-heart surgery for the condition Tetralogy of Fallot. It’s a combination of four related heart defects, including a hole between the right and left ventricles of the heart and a narrowing of the pulmonary valve that causes a blockage of blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. Following the extensive surgery, she grew up. She tried to go about life like everyone else — but found herself with some limitations.
“Throughout my early childhood until I was about 14 years old, I had a lot of activity restrictions,” she tells ESSENCE. “I could not participate in a lot of PE activities in school. I did not do sports as a child. I had asthma as a kid and was on many medications. I had a lot of activity intolerance and slept for hours after school.”
Despite such restrictions in her youth, as James grew older, she didn’t let it stop her from experiencing one of the biggest milestones of adulthood, which is starting a family. Then in her mid-twenties, she felt great joy about the news, but was warned that things might not go as hoped for herself or her baby.
“I was initially excited when I discovered I was pregnant with my son,” she recalls. “Then I received a lot of concerning and negative feedback from my doctors about all the potential risks and even the possibility of death for my son and me.”
She continues, “My pregnancy put a lot of stress on my heart due to the ‘age’ of the repaired ventricle.”
By the time she neared the end of her pregnancy, she was struggling with being short of breath, intense fatigue, activity intolerance and swelling. Some of the common symptoms and changes that come with pregnancy as it advances did a number on James, so much so that by the time she gave birth, her heart had weakened so much that she needed open-heart surgery once again.
The idea of having to undergo a second extensive heart surgery was discouraging to her. It was also scary. The recovery would be long and she was a new mom. However, her heart health couldn’t be put on the backburner. After waiting a couple of years, James, at 27 years old, stepped away from work and caring for her son to have open-heart surgery.
“My recovery was a total of nine months of rehab to regain my strength and repair my upper body weakness,” she says, noting that her breastbone was broken to do the surgery.
It was worth it though. Following an arduous healing process, James says she feels stronger and healthier than ever.
“Things have changed for me physically in such a good way,” she says. “I’m very conscious about my exercise routine. My upper body strength is better now than before I had open-heart surgery. I use better body mechanics when reaching and lifting for things. My overall health awareness has greatly improved. I know my heart isn’t working nearly as hard as before the surgery in 2015.”
She also is expecting again. And even though her first pregnancy greatly affected her heart, James and her doctors are confident that she, her unborn baby girl, and her heart, will be just fine this time around. She’s also taking precautions to ensure she feels her best and stress is kept to a minimum.
“I am very excited about this pregnancy and have great cardiovascular care and a solid medical team,” she says as we speak with her due date approaching. “I have changed my work status to remote and maintain light exercise daily and a healthy diet. I also ensure to rest as much as possible and really listen to my body.”
“I’m looking forward to enjoying this baby without as much physical stress and strain,” she adds. “I’m looking forward to good heart health postpartum.”
She’s also happy to use her voice, and her experiences, as a way to encourage other people, Black women in particular, to make their heart health a priority. While she wasn’t able to avoid the ordeal her heart has gone through, others can take measures to ensure their heart stays strong. And since heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, her efforts with her patients and everyday women, in support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red Women movement, are absolutely necessary during American Heart Month and onward.
“I help people advocate for themselves and to take control of their health status,” James says. “I think it’s important to really know your body and build a partnership with your providers. I want women to be more aware of how to care for themselves and seek the care they need to live healthier lives and stay on top of their heart health.”
For more information on the Go Red Women movement and initiatives being taken to save lives during American Heart Month this February, go to goredforwomen.org, and heart.org.