Susan Wairimu will never be able to carry a pregnancy, despite her deep longing to have a child or a descendant of her own.

When people hear that a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy, the first assumption is usually that she is infertile, or that she is suffering from conditions, such as fibroids or endometriosis. What is often overlooked, however, is that there are other contributing factors—unrelated to the reproductive system—that can also prevent a woman from carrying a pregnancy to term.

In the case of 35-year-old Wairimu, her inability to conceive is not due to reproductive health issues but rather a congenital heart condition.