LIMA — Chapter 111 of Mended Hearts Inc. in Lima is much more than a support group.
It is an exclusive club.
Members gathered at Lima Memorial Health System on Tuesday to celebrate the local chapter’s 25th anniversary.
Volunteers from the organization visit heart disease patients, their families, and caregivers to offer them hope. The catch is that all volunteers of the organization were once open-heart surgery patients themselves. The local organization serves patients at both hospitals in Lima.
“It gives us a chance to work it into the conversation,” said chapter President Larry Hicks. “I had a quadruple bypass myself. That way I can go in and offer them hope. I can say, ‘Hey, I had the same thing and here I am walking and talking.’”
The national organization of Mended Hearts has been serving heart disease patients for more than 65 years. The local group was started in 1991 when there was a need in the community.
“They first began treating heart disease here just after our group formed,” Hicks said. “Before that, everyone was going to Dayton for surgery. They were coming home and there was not a support group.”
At Lima Memorial, they have gone from doing heart catheterizations first in 1991 to doing 300 open-heart surgeries a year. John Cron, one of the local chapter’s founding members, said the organization offers hope to many. Cron had his heart attack in the parking lot while at Lima Memorial and said the staff is responsible for saving his life.
“When we got this started, what drove me was family,” Cron said. “We are very fortunate that Mended Hearts has remained relevant and successful here.”
Hicks said the group tries to live by its motto, “Its great to be alive and help others.”
“Going through open-heart surgery is very harsh,” Hicks said. “It takes a long time to heal. It is very evasive and depression can set in. We like to offer people hope.”
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