It's My Heart New England

OUR FOCUS

It's My Heart New England is a non-profit organization committed to providing support and advocacy for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects (CHD). Through awareness, resources, and education, It’s My Heart creates alliances and networks among families, groups, hospitals, and the community. It’s My Heart is found locally through chapters in communities across the country, as well as globally through this website...

ENCOURAGEMENT & SUPPORT

Our encouragement collection provides friends, families, and colleagues with insights and understanding to encourage those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects (CHD). All of the materials provided in this subscription have been carefully curated by caregivers and subject matter experts familiar with challenges specific to CHD. Our goal is to help you provide personal, authentic, and consistent encouragement to the people you care about. All proceeds from our encouragement collection will be used to support programming for our New England Chapter. 

ABOUT THE COLLECTION...

• 51 Encouragement Guides QUADS (Quick Understanding and Delivery).
• Over 500 encouragement experiences and recommendations curated by CHD patients, parents, and care-givers.
• Key encouragement themes and categories include: Health & Wellness, Faith & Fellowship, Parenting, Coming of Age
• Version 1.2 updated 11/28/2019
  
  

CURATORS

• Jamie Shurtleff, Western, MA Area Director, Hospital Program Liaison
• Tracy Coburn, Southern, ME Area Director, Hospital Program Liaison
• Heather Contrastano, CT Area Director, Hospital Program Liaison
• Isabelle Endicott, CT Area Director, Hospital Program Liaison
• Kiya Benoit, VT Area Director, Hospital Program Liaison
  
  

PROGRAMMING & EVENTS

• Create alliances in CHD community
• Multilingual speaking support
• Grief support & informational literature
• Monthly webinars and support groups
• Medical Advisory Board
• Annual National CHD Family Conference
• Annual Nationwide CHD Awareness Walks
  

ENCOURAGEMENT TOPICS

• Caregiving & Treatment - Blood Thinners, Cardiac Catheterizations, Surgery, Heart Transplant, Preparing Children for Heart Surgery, Non-Surgical Treatments, Feeding Tips For Your Baby, Special Needs For Children, Heart Health Recommendations, Physical Activity, Calcium & Phosphorus, Dental Care for the Child With CHD, Exercise for Weight In Healthy Children, Hypertension, Magnesium, Nutrition for Children with CHD, Nutrition for Infants with CHD, Obesity, Potassium, School Issues, Sodium, Weight Management
  
  
• Marriage & Family - Good Parenting, Supporting Each Other, The New Normal, Caring for the Caregiver, Play and Having Fun, Keeping things in perspective, loving everyone
  
  
• Research - New Treatments, Congestive heart failure, Heart rhythm problems, Pulmonary hypertension, Interventional cardiac catheterizations,