CHD Facts, Mended Little Hearts & CHD Awareness Week

The Facts (According to the American Heart Association)

• Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects in the United States, affecting approximately 1 in every 111 babies each year.
• Up to 1.3 million Americans alive today have congenital heart defects.
• Nearly twice as many children die from congenital heart defects in the U.S. than from all forms of childhood cancer combined.
• Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death for children age 15 and younger, and congenital heart defects, alone, claim about 3,600 lives per year.

About Mended Hearts

• Mended Hearts, a national nonprofit organization, has been offering the gift of hope to heart disease patients, their families and caregivers for more than 50 years. Recognized for its role in facilitating a positive patient‐care experience, Mended Hearts partners with hospitals and rehabilitation clinics and offers services to heart patients through visiting programs, support group meetings and educational forums.
• Our mission is “dedicated to inspiring hope in heart disease patients and their families.”

About the Mended Little Hearts program

• Mended Little Hearts, started in 2004, is a support program for parents and caregivers of children with heart defects and heart disease and is dedicated to inspiring hope in those who care for the littlest heart patients of all. Mended Little Hearts offers resources and a caring support network as families find answers and move forward to find healing and hope.
• Partnering with hospitals, Mended Little Hearts connects families in crisis with other parents who have survived the shock of learning a child has a heart problem. Mended Little Hearts helps others through peer‐to‐peer support meetings, educational programs, accredited hospital visiting programs, creating awareness about congenital heart defects and advocating on issues that impact the lives of those with heart defects.
• Mended Little Hearts currently has 49 community support groups in 22 states, and is growing rapidly.
• Our mission is “to provide hope and support to children, families, and caregivers impacted by congenital heart defects in order to extend and improve quality of life.”

Call to Action

If you are interested in learning more about Mended Little Hearts, receiving information on how to start a Mended Little Hearts program at your hospital, or learning about volunteer opportunities with Mended Hearts, please contact 1‐888‐HEART99 or 1‐888‐432‐7899.