Cardiac Connections
Heart to Heart Mentoring
Hearing the news that your unborn child has a Congenital Heart Defect can be very difficult. Our Heart to Heart mentor program involves a one-to-one parent relationship. New parents that have had their children diagnosed for the first time will be paired with a specially trained parent that has gone through a similar experience.
“When we found out about his heart diagnosis, we applied to be a part of the Heart to Heart program. This paired us with the mother of another heart warrior with the same diagnosis as our son. She helped answer our questions about day-to-day life with our son and his heart in a way that the health care professionals could not because they have not lived it.”-Heart Mom
Heart Moms Group
Meet our Leaders Elizabeth and Cora. Elizabeth grew up in Spokane and graduated from EWU (Go Eags!!) with a Bachelor’s in Children’s Studies which included wanting to go into Play Therapy in the hospital. She worked in insurance for many years after graduating while volunteering for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital floating between the different children’s wings. She and her husband have 2 daughters, and her oldest daughter made her a Heart Mommy, and there they began an unexpected journey they never thought they’d go on, but one they are even more blessed to be on. It has strengthened, challenge, and molded her to the mom and person she is now. She loves hiking, exploring, road trips, sunshine and Fall sweater weather and curling up with a good book and blanket in spare time. Elizabeth loves getting to know others and making friends.
After growing up on a family-owned cattle farm in Southwest Washington, Cora moved to the Spokane area in 2013. After graduating from Whitworth, she put her Masters in Teaching to use and taught middle school for several years. In 2021, Cora and her husband welcomed their Heart Warrior, Abigail, into their family! The following year, they had their son, Cole. Cora spends her days wrangling the kids and living the oh-so glamorous and rewarding lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom. Whenever Cora has free time, she enjoys creating art, finding an eatery with the best soft pretzels ever made, playing co-ed soccer, bird watching, and spending quality time with her family.
Events for 2024 will be the 2nd Wednesday of odd months! (January, March, May, July, September).
Watch our Events Page for details.
Cardiac Kids
Cardiac Kids is a support group for school-age children that live with Congenital Heart Disease.
These events include the Heart Party, outings such as a Spokane Chiefs/Indians Game, Mommy and me Day, Silverwood Day, or a pizza party. All CHD children and their siblings are welcome to attend. Our goal is to provide fun activities where they can meet and become friends with other children that have common shared experiences.
Events are advertised on Facebook and Instagram and will be added to our events page. Be on the lookout for our next event.
UpBeats
UPBEATS is the Beats and Rhythms teen-only support group. This bi-monthly group will be doing cool things that YOU want to do. Events such as Hiking, Bike rides, Painting, Game night, and even Disc Golf. You get to choose! Please watch our events page for upcoming events and fill out the form below to be connected by email.
Cardiac Care Bags
Cardiac Care Bags are special care packages put together and supported by our parent mentors and gracious volunteers in our community. They are presented by a mentor to patients and families when they are in the hospital for cardiac surgery.
Cardiac Care Journal
This journal was designed by a parent who has a child with Congenital Heart Disease. The intent of this journal is to have a central location to document your child's journey with CHD. Inside you will find many helpful resources and convenient ways to keep important information documented
"The cardiac notebook was such a great surprise to have! I was going to go out and get a notebook myself so that I could write down all of the information that was being given to me. It was a great tool to help with any questions/comments/thought I had while in the hospital, that I would forget to ask while doctors/nurses were around. Or to keep track of the answers that I was given. It helped me keep remember the surgeries, surgeons and his care team since it is Tailor made for heart patients! Such a big help for me along the way. Thank you for taking the time to make something so helpful!" Heart Mom Sarah
ACHD Support Group
Years of advancement in congenital cardiac care has resulted in more adults than children living with congenital heart disease. We offer a bimonthly support group for patients ages 18+ and their support people. Our support group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of even-numbered months in the Garabedian Classroom on the 4th floor of the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Each meeting begins with a webinar on an ACHD topic followed by group discussion. Refreshments provided.