Mended Hearts
| Founded | 1951 |
|---|---|
| Location | |
Key people |
Donnette Smith (President) Millie Henn (Executive Vice President) Patrick Farrant (Vice President) Michele Packard-Milam, CAE (Executive Director) |
| Mission | "Inspire hope in heart disease patients and their families." |
| Website | Official Website |
Mended Hearts is a United States-based charity which functions as a support group for individuals suffering from heart disease. It was founded in 1952 by cardiac surgery pioneer Dwight Harken.[1] Dr. Dwight Harken was the first surgeon in history to repeatedly perform successful heart surgery. Dwight Harken asked four post-surgery heart patients to get together to give encouragement and support to each other and prospective patients. It was there that these patients spoke of their "mended hearts". Mended Hearts offers a program for the families of children born with congenital heart defects known as Mended Little Hearts.[2]
Mended Hearts is the largest heart patient peer support network in the world.[1] Mended Hearts partners with 460 hospitals and rehabilitation clinics across the United States. Its 300 chapters and 20,000 volunteers touch the lives of patients throughout North America, assisting patients and caregivers from diagnosis through recovery with social, emotional, and practical support. Mended Hearts is recognized for its role in fostering a positive patient-care experience, and provides services to heart patients through visiting programs, educational forums, and support group meetings.