Friendship and Community

Finding people to talk with about CHD can be hard. Not only can it be difficult to communicate to others what you and your family are experiencing, but it can also be hard for others to understand. Sometimes, you may want talk to someone who has been through a CHD-related experience, but finding those individuals may be difficult.

We have a variety of people who participate in Mended Little Hearts of Washington DC and can introduce you to parents with kids who have CHD or even teens or adults with CHD. You can connect with them through play dates, meetings, events, or our social media accounts. We are also continually seeking to build the community in the DC area for all families, including those who may have lost their child as a result of CHD.

To build friendship and community, we facilitate the following:

Play dates for the kids: We hold periodic play dates throughout the DC area, often targeting central locations. Play dates offer kids a chance to meet other kids with CHDs and realize that they are not alone.

Group meetings for the adults: We hold periodic meetings throughout the DC area. It’s a good forum for all parents (e.g., expecting your first child, currently going through a surgery, completed all surgeries) to ask questions, receive support, or provide support.

Community building events: We seek to hold three community building events each year. These are larger events focused on bringing our entire community together at a facility, park, or other event.

Assistance for CHD camps: We provide financial assistance for CHD camps so that the children of low income families can attend camps where they can build lifelong friendships and community around the unique issues they face.

Bereavement community: We have families that are a part of our MLH DC community who have lost their child to CHD-related issues. These families will forever be a part of our community and help comfort those coping with loss. You are never alone.

To monitor upcoming events, please check our events page, join our mailing list, or follow us on Facebook.

We are also always in need of volunteers to set up play dates or organize group meetings to cover as much of the DC region as we can. If you are interested, please contact us!