I do not take pleasure in writing about black maternal health in general or specifically about black women who die either during pregnancy, giving birth, directly after birth, or even a year after having a baby. In fact, it is depressing. In this case, however, despite the other women who have died publicly during and/or because of childbirth, I decided to write about this mother because she is a doctor: Chaniece Wallace, MD.
It happens more than we know. The data and statistics tell the story about black maternal health, mortality, and morbidity. And, it hurts even more when a young, promising black doctor has died during her own childbirth.
Chaniece Wallace, MD, a fourth-year pediatric chief resident at Indiana University School of Medicine, recently died during childbirth. During her pregnancy she developed prececlampsia.
For a bit of preeclampsia visual reference: I wrote about a black Youtube mom who recently experienced preeclampsia and documented her journey. She is doing incredibly well now, but boy, watching her get her post-pregnancy blood pressure down to normal levels was NOT easy.
Dr. Wallace delivered her baby via C-section, but suffered from kidney failure, high blood pressure, and a ruptured liver. She died on October 24.
No woman should die during childbirth.
Please keep this family in your prayers. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help her husband and newborn daughter, Charlotte Wallace. No family should have to go through this no matter age, weight, race, socioeconomic status, health care, or educational level attained.
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