Mended Little Hearts

Mission

To inspire hope and improve the quality of life of heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support, education, and advocacy. ©

Vision

To be the premier nationwide resource and peer-to-peer support network for all heart patients and their families affected by Heart Disease across the lifespan. ©

Goals

Our foundation is built on three principles throughout the organization. These principles are Support, Education and Advocacy.

About

The Mended Hearts, Inc. is a national and community-based non-profit organization that has been offering the gift of hope to heart disease patients, their families and caregivers. MHI is the largest cardiovascular support organization in the world.

Founded by Dr. Dwight E. Harken, The Mended Hearts, Inc. was started with four of Dr. Harken’s open heart surgery patients. In January 1951 Dr. Harken asked Doris Silliman, one of the first 50 patients to ever have heart surgery, and three other post-surgery heart patients – Keith Otto, Alphonse Santomassimo, and Elizabeth Wilkinson – to meet at the hospital. They spoke of their new feeling of well-being, their plans and hopes for the future — and with renewed happiness they spoke of their “mended hearts.” They realized how wonderful it would be to provide support and help others facing the same experience. Read more on the website.

“In 2004, The Mended Hearts, Inc. recognized a unique need to provide hope and support to ‘the littlest heart patients of all’ and their families, so the Mended Little Hearts program was created.”