Mended Little Hearts of Greater Rochester
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When a child is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD) / heart disease, caregivers may think hope is lost. Often they feel very alone.
Mended Little Hearts (MLH), a nationwide organization for parents, caregivers and families of children with heart defects / heart disease, provides resources and a caring support network to help families work through overwhelming emotions involved with having a child with a heart defect / heart disease. This organization helps families move forward to find laughter, healing and hope.
Serving families. Serving the Community.
Mended Little Hearts of Greater Rochester is partnering with The Children’s Heart Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) to inspire those who care for the littlest hearts patients of all.
The core goals are to connect families in crisis with others who have survived the shock of learning a child has a heart defect / heart disease, navigate the maze of medical decisions and procedures, and map out a plan for the future. Mended Little Hearts was developed and is supported by The Mended Hearts, Inc., a national organization with over fifty years of experience serving heart patients and their families.
Purpose of Mended Little Hearts:
- Offer support to family members and other caregivers of children affected with heart defects / heart disease.
- Offer educational / health resources relating to heart defects / heart disease and well-being.
- Raise awareness in the community about children’s heart defects / heart disease and factors that may contribute to this disease.
The Facts*
- 9 out of every 1,000 births will have some form of congenital heart disease (CHD).
- Approximately 36,000 babies are born with a heart defect each year in the U.S.
- About 1.3 million Americans born with a CHD are alive today; one half of these are under the age of 25.
- Cardiovascular disease ranks as the number 2 cause of death for children under the age of 15.
*According to the American Heart Association
Mended Little Hearts of Greater Rochester is a nonprofit educational, tax-deductible organization that is affiliated with the American College of Cardiology.
Membership is free of charge and open not only to parents and caregivers of these special children, but also to heart defect survivors, extended family members, healthcare partners, neighbors, friends and anyone else interested in furthering the outreach and support network of MLH.
While at Golisano Children's Hospital at URMC, feel free to contact MLH of Greater Rochester for support. We are able to make hospital visits, phone visits and email visits.
When you go home, be sure to contact your local Chapter for continued support. All Upstate NY Chapters work closely together to support those treated at Golisano Children's Hospital and the Children’s Heart Center
To become a member, go to www.mendedlittlehearts.org and click on ‘Connect’ green tab and then ‘Become a Member’. Fill out form and choose your Chapter.
Local Upstate NY Chapters:
MLH of Greater Rochester
MLH of Binghamton
MLH of Syracuse
MLH of Western NY (Buffalo)
To join MLH even if you do not have a CHD child, put ‘Supporter’ for Patient’s Name and use ‘N/A’ for the DOB.
For more local information, please visit our website:
Little Hearts Hold Big Hopes.