Brianna D. Henderson
Hello, everyone!
I'm Brianna Harris-Henderson, Founder of Let's Talk PPCM. I am a Certified Patient & Family Partner, birth doula, patient advocate, life coach, grant writer, and published author dedicated to improving maternal cardiac health and raising awareness of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM).
Over the years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with organizations and media outlets including NBC 5 News, Baylor Scott & White Health, The Press Association (London), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Popular Science, the Preeclampsia Foundation, Merck for Mothers, and many other respected partners to educate healthcare professionals, patients, families, and communities about PPCM and maternal cardiac safety.
Through Let's Talk PPCM, my mission is to empower others through education, advocacy, and survivor-centered resources that help improve awareness, promote timely recognition, and support better maternal health outcomes.
My PPCM Story
My journey into maternal health advocacy began after surviving a postpartum hemorrhage and being diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM)—a rare but life-threatening form of heart failure that can develop during the last month of pregnancy or up to 12 months after childbirth. PPCM weakens the heart muscle, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively throughout the body. Because its symptoms often resemble those of a normal pregnancy or postpartum recovery, the condition is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed.
My passion for this work is also deeply personal. In 2014, three years before my own diagnosis, my older sister, Crystal, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest just six months after giving birth to her second child. At the time, there was little awareness of PPCM among her healthcare providers. She tragically passed away while waiting for a heart transplant, without ever receiving the diagnosis that could have changed the course of her care. I believe her death was preventable, and her story continues to inspire my mission every day.
Today, I am grateful to be considered fully recovered from PPCM. Through Let's Talk PPCM, I partner with healthcare professionals, birth workers, community organizations, and families across the country to increase awareness of maternal cardiac disease, promote earlier recognition of PPCM, and empower patients to advocate for their health.
My mission is simple but urgent: to help ensure that no family loses a mother to a condition that can be recognized sooner through education, awareness, and timely action.
Featured Medical Expert
Dr. Njeri Kuria is a cardiologist completing her general cardiology fellowship and transitioning into an interventional cardiology fellowship. Her clinical interests focus on women's cardiovascular health, preventive cardiology, and reducing healthcare disparities. During this workshop, Dr. Kuria provides evidence-based education on Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), maternal cardiac evaluation, recognition of warning signs, and the importance of timely diagnosis and multidisciplinary care.
Featured Survivor Speaker
Lisa Schwartz is an actress, comedian, author, and digital creator with more than 2.5 million followers across social media platforms. She has appeared in Party Girl, Fool's Paradise, and the Emmy Award-winning series Abbott Elementary. Her memoir, Thirty-Life Crisis, reached #1 on Amazon's Best-Selling Memoirs and Comedy lists.
After surviving Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and postpartum depression, Lisa now uses her platform to raise awareness about maternal heart health, encourage self-advocacy, and empower mothers to trust their instincts when something doesn't feel right.
Together, these presentations offer a unique combination of clinical knowledge and personal experience, reinforcing the importance of recognizing maternal cardiac warning signs, listening to patients, and advocating for timely, life-saving care.
Maternal Cardiac Safety Kit
The Let's Talk PPCM Maternal Cardiac Safety Kit is a comprehensive resource designed to support healthcare professionals, birth workers, community organizations, and families in recognizing maternal cardiac warning signs and promoting timely education and advocacy.
Created to complement the Maternal Cardiac Safety Workshop, the kit provides practical tools that can be integrated into everyday conversations, patient education, and community outreach.
Today's Curriculum
Join a Maternal Cardiac Safety Movement
We recommend that all birth workers, healthcare professionals, and cardiology teams participate in a PPCM Maternal Cardiac Safety Workshop.
This workshop goes beyond what is often shared through media coverage by providing education on the facts, risk factors, warning signs, and real-world impact of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Learning directly from a PPCM survivor helps bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and the patient experience, creating a deeper understanding of why early recognition, listening, and advocacy matter.
To date, this workshop has reached:
15,000+ individuals educated
3,500+ healthcare professionals reached
500+ survivor stories shared
1M+ awareness campaign views
Start the Workshop Today.
