Lynchburg Living

Body

By Donna Dunn

Curtis Wade says his grandchildren like to put their ears to his chest and hear the ticking of his mechanical heart valves.

For Wade, who had the surgery in 1999, it’s a sweet sound. Today, he espouses the life motto of an organization close to his heart–the Blue Ridge Mended Hearts: “We made it. We’re alive and thriving!”

Wade, publicity chair and one of more than 170 members of the Blue Ridge Mended Hearts, celebrated this summer when the chapter won the President’s Cup, acknowledging it as the best of 260 chapters nationwide. It is the third time the Blue Ridge Chapter has won, more than any other Mended Hearts chapter.

“Our award is the result of teamwork, support from Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, the auxiliary staff, the cardiac nursing staff and the cardiology group, especially Dr. Tom Nygaard, who allowed us to provide thousands of hours visiting patients and family members each month,” Chapter President Lawrence “Rita” Bryant said of winning the award.

Eight local members traveled to New Orleans to accept the honor. Mended Hearts partners with 460 hospitals and rehabilitation clinics and offers services to heart patients through visiting programs, support group meetings and educational forums. This year, the Mended Hearts Hospital of the Year was Centra Lynchburg General Hospital.

Blue Ridge Mended Hearts, Chapter 16, based at Lynchburg General, has won the President’s Cup in 2011, 2008 and 1999; it was runner up in 2005, 2003, 1997, 1995, 1993 and 1992. Its monthly newsletter has received awards six times for excellence, outstanding service and certificate of appreciation. As the nation’s top chapter, its members were recently selected to help create a training video that will be used across the country.

Now that they’re the top group, “You’ve got to strive hard to keep it that way,” Bryant said.

The busy chapter offers a monthly newsletter, public programs on a variety of heart education topics and meetings, as well as a comprehensive visitation program. They fundraise to provide scholarships for cardiac nurses seeking further education and for children to attend Heart Camp. They also recently contributed $18,000 to the Centra Foundation for its new hospitality house, the Rosemary and George Dawson Inn.

Mended Hearts trains accredited visitors to meet with cardiac patients and their families at the hospital. They also follow up at home with phone calls and emails. Begun in 1989, the Blue Ridge Mended Hearts now has about 170 members and 35 accredited visitors, who contact about 2,000 patients each year. Accredited visitors receive annual training, which includes direction on the same privacy rules followed by hospitals.

Blue Ridge Mended Hearts members range from those who’ve had less invasive catherization procedures to one member who had a heart transplant. They reinforce messages from the hospital about exercising and maintaining a healthy diet, but they’re also there to offer a listening ear and an experienced voice.

Wade recalls a recent talk with a woman who would soon have a similar surgery to his own.

“She said, ‘I’m still scared, but you helped me a lot.’ I said, ‘It takes a life-changing attitude. … You take it one day at a time. I don’t say I have problems. I call them adjustments,’” he said.

Sharing that optimistic outlook is essential for cardiac patients, especially because in recent years researchers have found a link between depression and heart disease. Up to 15 percent of patients with cardiovascular disease and up to 20 percent of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery experience major depression, according to the American Heart Journal.

“That’s often the most rewarding part of being a Mended Heart–the phone visit,” said Bryant. “They really open up.”

Cardiologists have increasingly found support groups like Mended Hearts to help in the healing process. The national Mended Hearts organization is now affiliated with the American College of Cardiologists.

Carol Bryant, who will become the chapter’s president in January 2012, said that partnership helps to make Mended Hearts more effective.

“They call us part of their team; Mended Hearts is part of the healing team,” she said.

Lynchburg physicians also speak highly of the Blue Ridge Mended Hearts.

“Mended Hearts are always there looking for a way to reassure or lend a helping hand,” Dr. David W. Franz said. “Their shared experiences give something back to others and help patients and families through a difficult passage.”

“We find Chapter 16 to be a vital and integral part of our heart center,” Dr. Thomas W. Nygaard added. “Mended Hearts has an office on our post-operative cardiac floor, and we consider them to be one of the divisions of our center.”

The wall outside the Mended Hearts office on the cardiac floor is running out of room from its commendations and awards. Inside, the office holds schedules for accredited visitors who volunteer seven days a week.

The Blue Ridge Mended Hearts began shortly after Centra’s cardiovascular surgery program was established in 1989. Today, more than 30,000 patients and families have been touched by the group.

The national Mended Hearts organization began in January 1951 in Boston, Massachusetts, when heart surgery looked very different than it does today. Surgeries have become less invasive, requiring fewer open heart procedures and more catherizations, stents and even robotic surgeries. At the same time, heart disease has become the number one killer of Americans. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Despite medical changes and the prevalence of heart disease, the mission of Mended Hearts hasn’t changed. Members still listen, offer support and celebrate each heart beat. Just like Wade and his grandchildren do.

Golf for Heart Health

The second annual Tye Cobb Golf Tournament will be held April 20, 2012, at London Downs golf course near Lynchburg.

Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mended Hearts, the tournament is named for Tye Cobb Drinkard, who served the organization for 20 years and battled heart disease for 32 years. His wife, Betty, also helped to start the tournament in 2011 and continues on as its chair in 2012.

“It was a way to keep his memory alive and continue his work,” she said.

To get involved or participate in the tournament, call Drinkard at (434) 525-2852.

Become a Mended Heart

New members can join free through July 1, 2012 (a $22 savings). Just call the Chapter 16 office at (434) 200-7611. For more information on Mended Hearts, visit www.mendedhearts.org. To learn more about Lynchburg General Hospital, visit www.centrahealth.com.

Upcoming Mended Hearts Programs

Nov. 17: Tim Buzzelli, Perfusionist, presents “Legacies of the Heart,” in First Colony Conference Room #1 at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, 7-8:30 p.m.

Dec. 2: First Colony Conference Room #1, Holiday Covered Dish Social, 6 p.m.