Contributed by Marilyn Huffman, President – Mended Hearts | Fall, 2015
A Story of Heart Matters
A Story from Mended Hearts | Doris is a busy, happy senior. She enjoys retirement, welcomes a new grandchild now and then, and just generally lives life well. Some issues bother her a bit, but she tends to brush them off. Doris doesn’t want to be one of those people who constantly worries about their health.
Finally, reluctantly, Doris makes an appointment with her primary care doctor. After some tests, she is alarmed to discover that she has an irregular heartbeat. The tests also show some other potentially life-threatening issues that must be addressed.
All of a sudden February and Heart Month take on a whole new meaning!
Take the Next Step
The situation Doris finds herself in might just be where you currently find yourself as well, where the world turns upside down for you and your loved ones. So what now? What is the next step in this new phase of your life?
First and foremost, find a cardiologist with whom you feel comfortable. Ask questions. Prepare for your appointment by making a list of those questions. And perhaps most important of all, ask someone to accompany you to your appointment. Remember that two sets of ears hear more than one set.
Mended Hearts Support
Once you have used the help of experts to settle on a plan of action, ask yourself this important question: “Do I know anyone who has had this same issue, procedure, or surgery with whom I am comfortable in seeking advice?” If the answer is “no”, don’t despair. You are not alone. There is someone who has been there and done that—someone who would love to talk with you.
That person is a Mended Hearts certified, trained volunteer. Mended Hearts is a national organization (with 300 chapters across the US) that has provided peer to peer support to patients and their caregivers for over 60 years. Volunteers never give medical advice, but they understand what you are going through. They have dealt with the same or similar issues. Just talking to someone who has experienced the same procedure or surgery may put your mind at ease.
Mended Hearts volunteers have discovered that helping someone else during this time is beneficial to themselves as well as to the patient or caregiver.
Learn More About Mended Hearts
National Heart Month is a great time to learn more about Mended Hearts. First, they meet with and visit patients. Secondly, the Bellingham Chapter sponsors monthly meetings featuring guest speakers from the medical community. I encourage you to join us, because we all need to give and receive strength and support! The meetings are usually held on the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham.
Smaller group meetings are held regularly in Anacortes, Friday Harbor, and Orcas Island.
This article was first published in the Fall/Winter 2015/16 Edition of Vibrant Senior Options.
See the current edition of Vibrant Senior Options Resource Guide.
