Hundreds of people, young and old, in Henry, Clayton, Fayette, Spalding, and Coweta counties, suffer from a heart event every month. Patients frequently return home frightened after a heart attack, angioplasty, bypass surgery or valve replacement. Although their caregivers provide physical and emotional support, these patients frequently benefit from talking with other heart patient survivors. Until now, heart patients on the south side of Atlanta never had the benefit of a support group following their heart procedure.  Now, with the help of Jan Harris, a quadruple bypass survivor, and her husband Lewis, Southern Regional Hospital will host an Atlanta satellite branch of Mended Hearts. 

 Mended Hearts, started 40 years ago, is a national non-profit organization partnered with the American Heart Association. Mended Hearts is associated with 460 hospitals nationwide, and its mission is to inspire hope in heart disease patients and their families. Annually, Mended Hearts volunteers make over 227,000 hospital visits to patients and 30,000 visits to family members and caregivers. Through regular monthly meetings, members share their experiences, learn from healthcare professionals and volunteer to talk to other heart patients about lifestyle changes, depression, recovery and treatment. 

Southside Mended Hearts will have its initial meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in room A of the Continuing Education Center at Southern Regional Hospital. Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month. Survivors and their caregivers are welcome to attend.