The Mended Heart motto is- "It's Great to be Alive and to Help Others." Our chapter's Accredited Visitor Program offers a wonderful opportunity for our trained and accredited members to do just that.

Through an initial Hospital Training Seminar and yearly follow-up re-certification Seminars, members are trained to go to the bedside of heart surgical patients at Mesa General Hospital to offer support to heart surgical patients. Our Visitors meet with patients in the pre-op and post-op setting and offer something that money cannot buy, hope and encouragement.

Our Visitors are very special people because they have also suffered heart trauma and open-heart surgery. They know the fears, the doubts and the apprehension that comes with this life-saving heart intervention.

Although our Visitors never give medical advice, they do answer lots of questions for the patient and their families. They stand at bedsides as living examples that the miracle of medical science does work and there can be a productive, active and fulfilling life following heart surgery.

In these photographs, Chapter 297's President Bob Switzer and Mary Haggberg visit with a heart surgical patient at Mesa General Hospital. Their words, their encouragement often make a significant difference in a patient's outlook and attitude.

In the past year, our dedicated Mended Hearts Hospital Visitors have been at the bedside of heart surgical patients at Mesa General Hospital

Their simple statement of "I've been there myself" provides unusual and outstanding credentials for our Visitors as they reach out to heart patients.