Olympic gold medalist, Elyria native Tianna Madison discusses Black maternal health crisis at countywide baby shower

ELYRIA — Expectant mothers from throughout Lorain County were invited to a baby shower at Lorain County Community College on Saturday. The event, co-hosted by the Cleveland Clinic and Bright Beginnings, hoped to connect soon-to-be mothers to community resources and provide items for their infants like bibs, wet wipes and cribs. Three-time Olympic champion and Elyria native Tianna Madison spoke to those gathered Saturday as they wove through tables fo service providers about the importance of addressing Black maternal and infant health. Madison was competing at the Olympic tryouts for Tokyo when she found out she was six weeks pregnant, she said. "I was absolutely terrified … I knew about the statistics, going through school about the Black maternal mortality crisis … I also was like 'oh no my body, my career it's over,'" she said. When she came to terms with how her reality would change, it was 20 weeks later and she had just hired a maternity photographer and started creating baby shower invitations. Then, she went into labor. At only 26 weeks pregnant, she walked into the hospital and was told the best thing she could hope for was to stay pregnant. "I spent the next four days trying to stay pregnant in an upsidedown hospital bed, hoping that gravity would keep the baby inside," she said. "... I proceded to die over the next four days." She said her vitals and complaints were ignored — while in that moment she was ready to die for her child to be OK, she said, she went to the hospital with her advanced directive and her will, unsure if she would come home. It was a real fear for Madison, she said. Of her 2016 relay teammates, three of the four women had complications during childbirth. Tori Bowie died due to complications from childbirth in 2023. Madison now advocates for herself and other mothers — bringing her gold medals if she must to show the Black maternal mortality crisis does not care about one's social or economic status, she said. After Madison found out she was pregnant, she returned to school to become a social worker, she said. Her son, Kai, was born in 2021. "I want you to know that you can, and will, make it out of that hospital alive to raise your children because now you know what you need to know to make that happen," she said. "And that's a start." Until there is systemic change, she said, each expectant mother must advocate for themselves. "With every decision you make to get pregnant and grow your family is a step toward hope and a statement that you truly believe our futures are golden," she said. Bright Beginnings' Senior Marketing and Community Engagement Officer Sarah Taylor said the event's goal, and the resources her organization offers is to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The organization connects families with community resources. Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Tosin Goje, medical director for the Center for Infant and Maternal Health, and others from the hospital system also provided resources to families attending the shower. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.