Mended Hearts celebrates 25 years helping heart-surgery patients

On Oct. 20, more than 75 members of Mended Hearts, their spouses and health care professionals gathered at the Christiana Care Center for Heart & Vascular Health to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mended Hearts, Delaware Chapter 198. Dr. Timothy Gardner, medical director of the Center for Heart & Vascular Health, and Dr. Michael Banbury, W. Samuel Carpenter III distinguished chair of cardiovascular surgery, thanked the members of the organization for all they do for our patients.

Members of Mended Hearts visit patients and their families who have open-heart surgery and undergo stent placements at the Christiana Care Center for Heart & Vascular Health. They have visted more than 20,000 patients and logged more than 50,000 visits since the organization’s founding in 1986, following the first open-heart surgeries performed at Christiana Hospital. From 25 original members, the chapter has grown to approximately 100 members, of which 18 volunteer at Christiana Care.

Also in attendance at the celebration were Marcia Baker, director of field services for the Mended Hearts national office in Dallas, Texas, and the president and vice president of the Delaware chapter, Kersey Vakharia and Diane Margolin, along with several past and current officers.

For information about becoming a Mended Hearts volunteer, contact Diane Margolin at mhearts198@verizon.net.

Photo gallery: Mended Hearts Anniversary

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