Some stories stop you in your tracks, stories that make you think twice about the world around you. Dreeah Austin’s story is one of those.
Dreeah, a 30-year-old Black mother from Newark, New Jersey, tragically passed away just two weeks after giving birth.
She was found unresponsive in her car after running a routine errand, and despite heroic efforts to save her life, she died from a pulmonary embolism.
This is a heart-wrenching example of the gaps in postpartum care that disproportionately affect Black women, and it’s time we talk about it.
The Tragic Loss of Dreeah Austin
Dreeah was more than just a victim of a medical condition—she was a mother, a partner, and a beloved member of her community.
Just days before her passing, she was caring for her newborn daughter and her 10-year-old daughter. Loving and enjoying life, but her life would soon be over.
On July 21, Dreeah set out for a routine errand with her nephew, just another day in her life as a mother. But shortly after starting her car, tragedy struck.
She had a seizure, lost consciousness, and never woke up. She was rushed to the hospital, where her family sat in agony, hoping for a miracle.
But after two days, the harsh truth came.
The doctors told them there was no brain activity, and Dreeah wouldn’t be coming back. With heavy hearts, her family made the unbearable decision to discontinue care.
And just like that, this young mother was gone.
“She should have been started on the right medicine,” said Dr. Nastassia Harris of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative. “She should have been followed up closer after the delivery. There are likely a lot of things that could have been done differently.”
Dreeah had a history of blood clots from a previous pregnancy, something that should have been closely monitored, yet her care was insufficient. The 30-year-old died when that blood clot went to her lung.
“I could be the best father. I could be the greatest dad in the world, but I can’t be her mom,”- Saladeen Merritt, Dreeah Austin’s Partner.
It’s stories like these that highlight a broken system that continues to fail mothers of color at alarming rates.
Her family’s grief has been compounded by a fight for justice—a fight that extends beyond just her family to countless other mothers. They are calling for a change in how postpartum care is handled, and they aren’t alone.
A Health Crisis We Can’t Ignore
Dreeah’s case is part of a larger, horrifying trend. In New Jersey, maternal deaths among Black women are seven times higher than those among white women. Let that sink in!
This statistic is not just a number—it represents mothers who are lost too soon, children who grow up without their mothers, and families who are devastated by preventable deaths.
Experts point out that many of these deaths are preventable, and Dreeah’s case is no exception.
Her blood clot, if properly monitored and treated, could have been managed.
Her family and healthcare advocates believe that systemic changes in postpartum care could have saved her life.
The Perinatal Health Equity Initiative is one organization working to bring attention to this issue.
They argue that nine out of ten maternal deaths are preventable, with more than half occurring postpartum.
These deaths often go unnoticed, and healthcare providers fail to provide the care needed for mothers of color, who face disproportionately high risks due to both racial and gender bias in healthcare systems.
The Push For Policy Change
In response to this devastating loss, Dreeah’s family and advocates are calling for policy changes to ensure that no other mother has to experience what they’ve gone through.
They are demanding that healthcare providers receive better training, especially when it comes to understanding the unique risks faced by women of color.
In addition, they are advocating for legislative action to ensure that postpartum care is standardized and that all mothers receive the necessary follow-up care, especially after a high-risk pregnancy.
This fight for justice doesn’t end with Dreeah. Families across the country are rallying for better care and more accountability in the healthcare system.
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It’s a conversation that needs to be had—not just by policymakers, but by all of us.
Why We Must Talk About This
Stories like Dreeah’s matter because they highlight the disparities in healthcare that have existed for far too long.
Maternal health is a fundamental issue, and the conversation around it needs to be inclusive of all women, especially those who are too often ignored.
For Black women, the risks are even higher. Pregnancy-related deaths are five times higher among Black women than white women in New York State, and this number is echoed in many other parts of the country.
This disparity is not just about access to healthcare; it’s about the systemic neglect and bias that women of color face in the medical world.
The tragic deaths of mothers like Dreeah Austin shouldn’t be seen as isolated incidents—they are part of a pattern that must be broken.
If we care about mothers, families, and communities, we must advocate for change.
What Can We Do?
The good news is that change is possible.
But it will take more than just raising awareness.
We need action—both from lawmakers and from within our communities.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the disparities in maternal health and share this knowledge with your friends, family, and social networks. The more people understand the issue, the stronger the push for change will be.
- Support Advocacy Groups: Organizations like the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative are fighting for better policies and healthcare access for Black mothers. Support them by following their work, donating, or advocating for their cause.
- Speak Up: If you or someone you know has experienced inadequate postpartum care, share your story. The more we amplify the voices of those affected, the harder it becomes to ignore the problem.
- Advocate for Legislative Change: Support policies that provide better postpartum care, improved monitoring of high-risk pregnancies, and systemic accountability for healthcare providers.
A Call to Action: The Time to Speak Up is Now
Stories like Dreeah Austin’s are why I decided to start this blog—because we cannot afford to stay silent.
Black women are the most disrespected women in this country, just as Malcolm X so powerfully stated. And unfortunately, it’s the same song, different verse.
For centuries, we’ve been ignored, dismissed, and stripped of our voices. But now? We must demand better. We must speak up, and we must start lifting one another up, to ensure we get the care and respect we deserve.
Dreeah’s death wasn’t just a tragedy—it was a cry for change.
Now, not only does her newborn daughter have to grow up without her mother, but her 10-year-old daughter has to navigate life without the one person who could give her unconditional love and guidance.
And let’s be real: there is no love like a mother’s love. To lose that—especially at such a young age—leaves a void that no one can fill.
This could have been any of us. It could have been our families, our friends, our neighbors.
We can no longer sit back and hope for change—we have to demand it.
Dreeah Austin’s death wasn’t just another statistic, it was a wake-up call.
It’s time for us to rise up and fight for our lives and the lives of the women who come after us.
This is why I’m here, why I’ve built this platform—to create space for us to amplify our voices. For us to call out the system that continues to fail us and to demand better. We owe it to Dreeah, her children, and every Black mother who’s been lost due to inadequate care.
We deserve better health care, better postpartum care, and most importantly, we deserve to be heard. The time to fight is now.
Let’s honor the memory of Dreeah Austin by speaking up and ensuring her story isn’t one we forget—but one that sparks real change for all of us.
ABC 7 NY also reported on Dreeah Austin’s story.
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