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To support heart patients and their families by creating an inclusive and compassionate community through meaningful connections so no one feels alone. ©
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The Mended Hearts, Inc. (MHI) empowers heart patients and their families by providing relevant education and resources that enable them to make better decisions about their healthcare.
Meet Our Officers
Get to know the dedicated leaders at the heart of our organization. Each officer brings unique insights, experience, and compassion to guide our community, uphold our values, and foster positive change.
Message from a Grateful Heart Event Survivor
On October 12, 2025 I am celebrating a very special milestone in my life. This date signifies the 14th Anniversary of my near fatal heart event, when I suffered a major Heart Attack and was literally unresponsive for 35 minutes. Thanks to the amazing efforts of the medical professionals at the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center - UConn Health in Farmington, CT, and by the Grace of God, my life was saved, and I became eternally grateful.
Very soon after I recovered from the event, I searched for ways to “Give Back” and to “Share my Gifts” to support other heart event survivors and patients. I was quite fortunate to be introduced to Mended Hearts and I welcomed the opportunity to become an active member of Mended Hearts Chapter 9 supporting Greater Hartford, Connecticut. My enduring relationship with this Chapter has been an extremely worthwhile and rewarding experience on multiple levels.
I am truly blessed to be alive today, and I have my affiliation with Mended Hearts as a constant reminder of the importance and strength of giving back and sharing my experiences. Please know that all of your supporting efforts are appreciated are not to be overlooked or undervalued.
For me, these efforts give a new meaning to the Mended Hearts motto:
“It’s Great to be Alive - and to help Others”
Gratefully Yours,
John Klimczak
Our Officers (2023-2025)
Mended Hearts Quarterly Magazine
EACH YEAR, MHI HOSTS THE SHARE YOUR HEART® ESSAY AND Poetry Contest, which allows heart warriors to share their journeys with heart disease, how they have overcome obstacles and what they are looking forward to in the future. Sharing personal accounts can offer much hope and healing for both the writer and the reader, and these stories let people living with heart disease or congenital heart disease know that others have had similar feelings or experiences.
Fourteen independent judges evaluated each submission based on an established rubric that measures excellence in using the Share Your Heart theme; organization and clarity; personal and compelling content; spelling and grammar; and originality.
In addition to being published here in Heartbeat and on the Share Your Heart website, the winner in each category also received a gift pack.
Congratulations to John Myers and Amara Nalley on your winning entries that are published on the following pages. We'd also like to recognize the honorable mentions: Carole Mintzer, Monica Redondo Moro, Larissa Walker, Carrie Ward and Gary Williams.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a poem or essay. Because you were willing to share your story, others can have hope, feel comforted and know that they are not alone.
Past Newsletters
“It’s Great to be Alive - and to help Others”
The Mended Hearts® Inc. is a national non-profit organization consisting of three groups; Mended Hearts®, Young Mended Hearts® and Mended Little Hearts®. We are made up of and serve people with heart disease and their loved ones. The Mended Hearts, Inc. welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more about heart disease. Supported by a national office, local chapters actively serve across the United States and Canada. Our network is made up of patients having had heart events, family members, caregivers and health care professionals who provide support and information to recovering patients during hospital visits, by telephone, internet and group meetings. Mended Hearts Greater Hartford® Chapter 9 will be excited to see you at our upcoming Zoom meetings. Patients, caregivers, and interested parties are welcome to attend FREE, with no obligation to join our organization. We strive to have interesting speakers to make the meetings interesting.