Cheryl Stokes, who serves as the academic director for the corporate education division at Duke University, has traversed the world for her work. However, being four months pregnant made travel particularly uncomfortable for her.Upon her return from a business trip, Cheryl experienced a few contractions but her primary concern was her mother, Myrtle Bell, who was on the mend after a stroke and had been facing congestive heart failure. Despite her discomfort, Cheryl visited her doctor, who recommended that she immediately begin bed rest. Cheryl felt the doctor was being overly cautious, especially since, at 39, she understood her pregnancy was classified as high-risk due to factors like her weight, but she had otherwise been healthy throughout her life.
Unfortunately, her blood pressure was rising, which posed a risk for preeclampsia—a serious condition that can arise during pregnancy due to high blood pressure, particularly in those with obesity. Accepting the need to slow down, Cheryl decided to rest at home while still hoping to work. However, her doctor firmly advised against any work-related activities, stating, “You can either be on bed rest at home and not work, or you can be in the hospital.” With that, Cheryl settled into her bed rest, enjoying her favorite game shows, which led her to even audition for game show participation.
The day of her scheduled labor induction coincided with her mother’s treatment at the same hospital. After 24 hours of labor and challenges with her blood pressure, Cheryl underwent a cesarean section, successfully welcoming her son, Preston Joshua— affectionately known as PJoshua—into the world. Exhausted but thrilled, Cheryl’s mother was able to meet her newborn grandson shortly after his birth.
As a first-time mother, Cheryl initially found it difficult to gauge how she should feel post-delivery. The exhaustion following a C-section felt normal, yet her pale complexion and labored breathing raised alarm bells for her sister-in-law, Sheila Foxx. Concerned, Sheila urged Cheryl to contact her doctor. Subsequently, her husband Preston rushed her to the hospital, where doctors revealed she was suffering from congestive heart failure, with her heart function dropping to just 25%. This condition stemmed from peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare complication where the heart weakens during or shortly after pregnancy, with preeclampsia likely exacerbating the situation.
The family was unfamiliar with peripartum cardiomyopathy, and when they heard the term “heart failure,” they thought of Cheryl’s mother—not realizing it applied to Cheryl. After several days in the hospital, Cheryl noted the similarity in her treatment to her mother’s, as both were prescribed the same heart medication and dosage. Doctors also added a diuretic to her regimen, allowing her to rapidly lose about 30 pounds of excess water weight overnight.
The initial months back at home were challenging, as doctors advised Cheryl against lifting anything heavier than five pounds—making it complicated for her to carry and nurse her baby. Additionally, her cardiologist had concerns regarding the safety of her medications while nursing, prompting close monitoring. Fortunately, over the following months, Cheryl managed to stabilize her blood pressure, enabling her to return to work and start exercising again. She also achieved a personal milestone when, five months post-delivery, she appeared on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and won $50,000.
Fast forward nearly 19 years, PJoshua has entered college, and Cheryl and her husband Preston are now aiding in raising his 16-year-old grandson. At the age of 57, Cheryl has transformed her career as the CEO of a leadership development company that fosters inclusive leadership within major organizations. While she continues to manage her blood pressure, she’s proud to report that it requires a lower dosage of medication due to her commitment to a healthier lifestyle, having lost around 125 pounds since her health scare.
Beyond her professional achievements, Cheryl has enjoyed success on more game shows, having won $50,000 on “Wheel of Fortune” and participated in “The Chase.” She has gained valuable insights about her past health challenges, recognizing that factors like her weight and family history with hypertension and diabetes significantly impacted her pregnancy. This understanding has driven Cheryl to advocate for self-care among women, specifically targeting various racial and ethnic groups who face increased risks.
Cheryl emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one’s health, particularly for women of color who experience disproportionately high risks associated with uncontrolled hypertension during pregnancy. “We often take care of everyone else, but we need to take care of ourselves,” she advocates. “Self-care is not selfish; it’s necessary.”
