Melanie a nurse got heart failure after booster

Melanie 32-year-old mum of two beautiful children and wife to Tevita. Louis is three, and Estie is 1.

Melanie is a nurse working in a hospital, and her booster was due. She went on Monday for her booster with her two sisters, who are also healthcare workers.

The next day she had a very normal post-vaccination reaction, feeling flat and tired. Thursday morning, she woke up with chest pain. She couldn’t catch her breath after walking a few metres, and she was very dizzy. This is an entirely new symptom for Melanie. She usually is fit and healthy, caring for two young children, helping care for her dad with dementia and working as a nurse.

She went to see a GP who sent her for some blood tests. Friday morning, while at work, she got a call from the GP that told her to go to an emergency department straight away. Fortunately, she works at the hospital and could walk over.

After more tests, doctors said they think Melanie has a cardiac reaction from the booster. Later that night, she found out she was in heart failure at 32 years of age. This came as a massive shock to Melanie, her husband and all those that love her.

Melanie was admitted to a cardiac ward under the heart failure team that night. After a few more days in the hospital, separated from her children and her baby that is still breastfeeding and more tests and investigations, the medical team said she has severe left heart failure. She has an ejection fraction of 23%, and an average healthy person should be between 50 and 70%. The team then changed their mind, and they said it was not from the vaccine but a ‘preexisting condition’. However, Melanie has been well and healthy until three days after her booster.

Melanie has severe left heart failure, is on numerous heart failure medications and has to go in and out of hospital for more follow-up.

She is currently unable to work. She and her young family live with her mum while saving to buy their own house, dramatically changing and affecting their plans. Melanie is so unwell, and she suddenly has lost her independence and the ability to do simple things like bathe her children or drive in case she goes into sudden cardiac arrest.

This is devastating and from following health advice. We hope and pray Melanie’s heart will get better, and she can be there for Louis and Estie as they grow up.

Nothing we can do now can fix this situation. Still, please consider donating a small amount to relieve the financial pressure from Melanie not being able to work and Tevita having to take a lot of time off work to care for Melanie. We will be forever grateful. Thank you.