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"It's Great to Be Alive" ..... and Help Others!

Our Chapter's History

The local chapter #60 was formed in 1978 under the direction of Dr. Mascarenhas, a local cardiologist.  Since that time we have had monthly support meetings at the Florida Medical Center.  In addition, we have maintained a team of patient visitors composed of members who have had heart surgery.  Their visits in the hospital make an enormous difference and relieve a tremendous amount of worry and anxiety to the patients and their families.

In addition to visiting patients, every summer since 1992, our chapter has been sponsoring children with serious heart defects to a special camp that is under the supervision of cardiologists and nurses especially selected to care for them.  They are children who have never been to camp and, considering their condition, might never have had the opportunity to experience summer camp and mingle with others just like themselves without the assistance of the Mended Hearts.

History of The Mended Hearts, Inc.

Mended Hearts is an international, non-profit, self-help organization for those who have or have had any heart problems, their families, friends, and interested persons. You need not have had heart disease to become a member or the Mended Hearts.

Mended Hearts was founded in 1951 by four post-operative surgical patients at a hospital in Boston who wanted to share their experience and calm fears in others who have either had surgery or were facing surgery. Under the guidance of Dwight E. Harken, M.D., Cardiologist, they set guidelines and procedures for the forming of Mended Hearts and incorporated in 1955 with a motto..... "It's Great to Be Alive" ..... and Help Others!

We have grown to an international status, with heart support groups based on Mended Hearts in 8-10 countries around the world. Where there is no chapter affiliation, we have MAL's (MEMBERS-AT-LARGE).

In the beginning, we designated surgical patients as active members, while associate members consisted of our families, friends, physicians, cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, nurses, clergymen, or anyone else interested in the Mended Hearts' objectives and goals. Today, although we do keep a record of those who have had heart problems, we make no distinction between members. We are all members of The Mended Hearts, Inc.


The Mended Hearts, Inc. is an affiliate of the American Heart Association.
Copyright 2000 The Mended Hearts, Inc.