Every 15 minutes a child is born with a congenital heart defect.
Mended Little Hearts is there.
Mended Little Hearts is non-profit, volunteer-led program providing hope and support to children, patients and families affected by congenital heart disease.
Our Mission
To empower families affected by congenital heart disease (CHDs) through peer-to-peer support services, education, connecting families with resources, creating awareness and advocacy.
Our Vision
All families and patients affected by CHDs are able to share experiences and resources as members of a nationwide peer-to-peer support network.
Our History
The Mended Little Hearts National program began in April of 2004 as part of the Mended Hearts, Inc., which has been providing hope and support to heart patients and their families since 1951. Mended Hearts started when four heart patients in Boston, Massachusetts came together to discuss their heart surgery experiences. They quickly realized their shared stories provided both hope and healing in spite of their circumstances. In 2004, Mended Hearts local and national leader, Tita Hutchens, recognized the unique need to support families of children born with heart defects and heart disease. The earnest desire to provide support to the "littlest heart patients of all" led to the formation of the first two Mended Little Hearts groups – one in Fresno, California and one in Hollywood, Florida. Today, Mended Little Hearts has over 10,000 members and over 80 chapters in the U.S. and Mexico and has recently added services and support that extend to teen and adult patients.