Omari Maynard

‘We weren’t heard’: A father's campaign against the Black maternal mortality crisis in the US

When Omari Maynard and his partner Shamony Gibson welcomed their son Khari into the world in September 2019, they had every reason for joy. Their daughter Anari, born two years earlier, had arrived without complications. Shamony, a healthy 30-year-old dancer and hairstylist living Brooklyn, didn’t think she had any reason to worry.

They wanted to have a home birth, and they felt ready and excited. "Shamony's pregnancy was amazing," Omari recalls. "No complications, no problems. We had a midwife, and we also had a doula and that helped with giving us a birth plan."

But birth plans often change. After Shamony's water broke, she wasn’t dilating and her contractions stopped. On their midwife's advice, the couple headed to the hospital where doctors determined they needed to perform a Cesarean section, which proved more complicated than anticipated. During the operation, doctors encountered scarring from Shamony's previous Cesarean birth, making the surgery more difficult. Still, Khari was born healthy, and the family had every reason to believe the challenges were behind them.

But just thirteen days after giving birth, Shamony died from a pulmonary embolism—a blood clot that travels to the lungs.

Shamony's story is tragically common in America, the most dangerous high-income nation for childbirth. Each year, nearly 700 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes—and approximately 60% of them are preventable. For Black women like Shamony, the risk is significantly higher. They are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This crisis is further compounded by systemic racism in healthcare, as Black women often experience a dismissal of their symptoms.

In the days after giving birth, Shamony began experiencing pain and shortness of breath. It was difficult for her to walk. “We called the doctors and basically the answer that we got was that she just needed to rest,” Omari says. “We weren’t heard.”

Shamony went back to the hospital twice—once for a postnatal checkup for Khari and later to get her staples removed. While there, she told her doctors how she felt, but her symptoms were brushed off despite her clear distress.

Pulmonary embolisms are a common but often preventable complication of Cesarean sections, and they’re treatable with timely intervention. Yet, Shamony was sent home twice without proper care, and by the time her condition became critical, it was too late.

When Omari found Shamony convulsing on their bathroom floor, he immediately called 911. First responders continuously asked Omari the same question: “Has she been doing any drugs?” as he desperately tried to explain that she had just given birth and was in severe distress. This went on for nearly 20 minutes. Finally, Shamony was transported to a local hospital, where she spent 12 agonizing hours fighting for her life before passing away.

"I am bringing it upon myself to be the voice of fathers," Omari says. “When we lose a partner, when we lose a mother, there's always a father that's left behind." Channeling his grief into action, Omari began painting portraits for other families who have lost partners to maternal health complications. Through his art, he helps preserve memories and build community among those experiencing similar trauma.

Omari continues to honor Shamony's memory through The ARIAH Foundation, which he co-founded with Shamony's mom. ARIAH (Advancement of Reproductive Innovation Through Artistry and Healing) seeks to support individuals, families, and communities whose lives have been affected by systemic racism and maternal and infant health risks and death.

"Health equity for me means that whoever is going to be my practitioner looks at me the same way they look at their brother, the same way they look at their sister, the same way they look at their mother,” Omari says.

Through his advocacy work, Omari found an ally in March of Dimes. "March of Dimes is community. March of Dimes are people who understand that they have a role to move the agenda forward," he shares.

March of Dimes is committed to closing the health equity gap and ending preventable maternal deaths. By calling on policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders to take immediate and bold action, we’re working to end this crisis.

Today, with his children alongside him, paintbrush in hand, and supported by a network of allies, Omari remains committed to his mission of eliminating maternal mortality through continued advocacy and awareness efforts. He adds: “When we have a chance to say her name it provides a different impact because honestly, this can happen to anybody. Nobody wants to be in this situation, especially when you lose [someone you love] to complications that are easily preventable.”