After giving birth to twins, a seemingly healthy Mom of six nearly loses her life to a rare heart condition.

Mom•Logic: When were the twins born, and how was your delivery?

Celeste: They were born at 37 weeks. The delivery was fine. Mia was 7 pounds, 2 ounces and Marshall was 6 pounds, 6 ounces. I stayed in the hospital for a night and was released the next day.

Mom•Logic: When did you learn you were having heart failure?

Celeste: When I was released, talk of Hurricane Rita was all over the news. We live in Louisiana and everyone was evacuating. We packed up the family and went to stay with relatives in Mississippi.

My feet were swollen. The nurse at the hospital said it would happen, so I didn't think I was in great danger. I felt like I was getting a cold--like a hundred pound piece of lead was lying on my chest. By 4 a.m., I couldn't breathe. My family put pillows under me and tried to make me comfortable. The next morning, I went to the hospital where they said I was having congestive heart failure.

Mom•Logic: What was going through your mind?

Celeste: I had two little babies, three days old. There was fluid in my lungs and it was drowning me. It was a huge shock, but I was so sick that all I could think about was needing to get better. I knew I had to because my family needed me. Who was going to take care of the babies and our other kids? My husband broke down crying and was so upset, and here I am telling him it's going to be okay. I knew I wasn't going to die. My recovery took over a year, and my heart is now functioning at 55%, which is basically normal.

MomLogic: What message or advice do you have for other Moms?

Celeste: In my situation, my faith carried me through. It was an inner peace I had. I could see in my husband his worry and concern about so many things he didn't know about. He didn't know how to pay the bills because I had done it, and he didn't know certain things the kids did or needed. Something in me said it's going to be okay no matter the outcome. I would tell other Moms not to give up, not to lose faith, and stay strong.