MURRIETA – When the new director of the Murrieta satellite branch of San Diego’s Mended Hearts Chapter 62, Bill Desmond, is asked how to get over a failed love affair, he smiles and replies that, "The purpose of this organization is to offer help, support, and encouragement to heart disease patients and their families."

Desmond knows firsthand about the importance of getting caring support and guidance before and after a patient undergoes a heart-related procedure, having had both open heart surgery and transcatheter placement (stent insertion).

"One mission of Mended Hearts is to visit with hospitalized heart patients in the future. Some of us have been trained and started as volunteers at Murrieta’s Loma Linda Hospital," said Advertisement

[ Murrieta Volkswagen ] Desmond. "Also, in the future, the group hopes to grow large enough to petition the National Office to become a full-fledged Mended Hearts chapter."

The Mended Hearts, Inc. is a national organization whose mission is to inspire hope and improve the quality of life through on-going peer support for heart patients and their caregivers. In addition, qualified guest speakers provide valuable medical information, demonstrations, and offer referrals and answers to lingering questions.

Anyone interested in attending Mended Hearts meetings is welcome to join the local chapter on the third Saturday of every month at Rancho Springs Medical Center from 10 a.m. to noon. Their upcoming meeting will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16.

For more information, contact Bill Desmond at (951) 461-6958.