Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of maternal mortality in the United States, accounting for over one-third of maternal deaths, with Black women having among the highest maternal mortality rates. Why is childbirth such a risky condition for U.S. women’s health, especially for Black women—and what can be done about it? Wakisha (Kisha) Stewart shares her near death experience following her second pregnancy and the racial disparities in the healthcare industry that contributed to it. Her memoir is both a moving, lyrically told story of a decade-long struggle to survive a near-fatal heart attack with dignity and a clarion call for community-wide mobilization to guarantee health care equity. She is a nurse and was a national spokeswoman chosen in 2022 by the American Heart Association (AHA) to educate the public about the risks of cardiovascular disease.