WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Brenner Children’s Hospital and Health Services, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, has established North Carolina’s first Mended Little Hearts support group for families and caregivers of pediatric heart patients.
Mended Little Hearts is part of a national nonprofit organization affiliated with the American Heart Association. Created 50 years ago, Mended Hearts was established to promote a positive patient-care experience for adults treated for heart disease. Mended Little Hearts was created for families of pediatric heart patients.
Mended Little Hearts offers:
• Support to family members and/or caregivers of children affected with congenital heart defects and heart disease.
• Educational and health resources relating to congenital heart disease and heart disease and well-being.
• Public information to raise awareness in the community about children with congenital heart defects and heart disease.
Kari L. Crawford, R.N., P.N.P., program coordinator, said there is a unique bond for families of children with a heart defect.
“No matter what the defect is or the struggles they endure, they all have one thing in common—a sick child,” she said. “They fear the unknown and want to protect their children. The support group offers hope and a hug.”
Mended Little Hearts meets quarterly at night at various locations in the western region of the state. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Hickory.
For more information and directions to the meeting place, contact Crawford at (336) 713-2228.
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Media Contacts: Jim Steele, jsteele@wfubmc.edu, Shannon Koontz, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu, or Karen Richardson, krchrdsn@wfubmc.edu, at (336) 716-4587.
About Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Wake Forest Baptist is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University Health Sciences and Brenner Children’s Hospital. The system comprises 1,282 acute care, rehabilitation, psychiatry and long-term care beds and is consistently ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report. Brenner Children’s was named one of the top 30 best children’s hospitals in the nation by Child magazine.
Media Relations
Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587