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AN INTRODUCTION TO MENDED HEARTS

What do-we-do?
Mended Hearts is a volunteer support organization of people who visit heart disease patients and their families. We are associated with, and partially supported by the American Heart Association.

Membership:
Our membership consists of men and women who have experienced heart disease, their families, professionals in heart related health and medical fields, and other concerned individuals.

International in Scope:
We are a part of an international voluntary health education, non-profit organization with more than 250 chapters and about 25,000 members throughout the United States and Canada.

Purpose:
Our purpose is to offer help, support and encouragement to heart disease patients and their families. We accomplish this by visiting them in hospitals, by telephone, and by email. We also occasionally visit their homes.

Founded 50 Years ago:
Mended Hearts, Inc. was founded in Boston by four heart surgery patients in 1951 and in-corporated in 1955. Our local Greater Cleveland Chapter #138 was granted a charter in 1982. We have over 360 members and we hold monthly meetings at convenient facilities in and near the hospitals where we visit the heart patients.

Hospitals where we visit:
The following are the twelve area hospitals where we now visit heart patients: Cleveland Clinic, Community Health Partners, EMH Regional Medical Center, Hillcrest, Lakewood, Parma General, Southwest General, St. John WestShore, LakeWest, Metro-Health Medical Center, University Hospitals, and Veterans Administration on Wade Park.

Objectives:
The basic and primary objective of Mended Hearts is to visit (with doctor approval) and to provide help, support, and encouragement to heart disease patients and their families. Our visiting program is our most important function and is the reason for the organization. We also assist our members by having rap sessions and meetings where we arrange to have outside speakers talk on subjects of interest to people with heart disease.

Manage Heart Disease:
We represent an example of people who are successfully managing heart disease. Our organization is proud and pleased to demonstrate that this spirit is alive and well and exists in the hearts of our visitors who have been trained to help you.

To Contact Mended Hearts:
Call or email our Chapter President, Joyce Thompson Russo, 216-749-4131. Email: smileymoxi@yahoo.com. Or contact any of the officers listed in our newsletter.

"Its great to be alive - and to help others!"