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"It's Great to Be Alive" ..... and Help Others!
The Golden Thread Special Online Edition The Golden Thread is the official newsletter for Chapter 60, the Fort Lauderdale Area Chapter, of “The Mended Hearts, Inc.” We print it each month with the exception of July and August. We use this letter to keep in touch with our members, the national organization, the patients we have visited in the hospital and all other persons interested in our program to support heart recovery patients. In our newsletter we advise our readers what is scheduled for the next meeting and succeeding ones. We report on what has happened at the prior meeting. We announce the next Board of Directors’ Meeting and any other special meetings and events. We regularly recognize birthdays and surgical anniversaries of our members. It is always a pleasure to welcome new members. Special programs such as the “Ethel Sanders Cardiac Camp Fund,” the American Heart Association activities and the Bingo and Christmas/Hanukkah luncheon. In addition we feature special health related articles. “The Mended Hearts, Inc.” is an international organization with over 250 chapters in the United States and Canada. The total membership is over 25,000. The total number of patients visited annually is over 150,000 and there are over 3000 accredited visitors belonging to the Mended Hearts. The national organization is supported by the American Heart Association and membership dues. Our local chapter, #60, is supported by the Florida Medical Center, the local affiliate of the American Heart Association and our own membership through dues and contributions. Chapter 60 was formed in 1978 with the assistance of Dr. Eugene Mascarenhas, Cardiologist. He is still on staff at Florida Medical Center. Our regularly scheduled general support meetings are on the second Sunday of every month at 2:00 p.m. They are held in the auditorium of the Florida Medical Center. Besides the monthly meetings our members visit patients in the hospital to offer them encouragement and non-medical advice. This is one of our most important endeavors. We have a special project in which we raise money to send children with generic heart problems to Camp Bon Coeur (Camp Good Heart). It is a camp dedicated to children so afflicted. These kids can’t compete in a regular camp atmosphere. At Bon Coeur the activities are scaled to their limited ability. At our monthly meetings we have speakers from the medical field. We also devote time to have an exchange of information between the members and guests. Many post surgical patients feel that their problems are unique. Through dialog you will see that there are others who have had similar experiences and recovered. We look forward to meeting you and your family at one of our meetings in the near future. At your request (email mendedheartsch60@aol.com), we will send you a copy of “The Golden Thread” for three months. It will let you know about our organization and its activities. We encourage you to join us. Mended Hearts has much to give. We have an apt motto. “It’s Great To Be Alive and to Help Others.” Experiences You may have as you recover from Heart Surgery After surgery it is not uncommon to have questions about what you are feeling as your body heals. As Mended Hearts we can assure you that many of your feelings are not unusual; and we can share some of our experiences with you. INCISION. Many of the concerns that people voice are a feeling they are experiencing around the incision (wound). The incision may be sensitive to light touch such a T-shirt or blouse. Women may feel uncomfortable in the area where their bra is in contact with the wound. It may help to wear a thin dressing over the wound to reduce friction from the clothing.
Who! How! and Why! of The Mended Hearts Our members are people, just like yourself, who have gone through heart surgery, valve surgery, angioplasty or other heart procedures. They and their families have found support from within Mended Hearts. We want you to join us. To do so, you may request an application (email mendedheartsch60@aol.com), or better still, come to a meeting where you will have a chance to observe Mended Hearts first hand. We will be happy to show you the advantages of membership. The interaction between yourself and other heart recovery patients is the best therapy. When you no longer feel the need for encouragement it can be your turn to support others. |
The Mended Hearts, Inc.
is an affiliate of the American Heart
Association.
Copyright 2000 The Mended Hearts, Inc.