Reaching Out, Helping Others

   Founded on the premise “a good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up,” BHBB’s mission is simple: Families reach out to other families who have loved ones living with congenital heart disease and offer a supportive and comfortable place to talk about their children.  For adult survivors, Broken Hearts offers the opportunity to meet other adults with CHD. We celebrate the lives and triumphs of our survivors,  and offer understanding, comfort and hope. BHBB connects families so they can share experiences and give support.  We also raise awareness about the frequency of congenital heart defects (1 out of 125 children is born with CHD), and the prevelance of adult survivors (about 1 million) and the affects CHDs have on their survivors and families.

    Since June 2006, Broken Hearts has grown to more than 50 families, hailing from all over Florida, southeast Georgia, and even Alaska.

Sharing Stories, Offering  Hope

    Sometimes, a congenital heart defect – repaired or unrepaired – is obvious to anyone. Sometimes, no one would ever know anything was wrong unless told. But it’s a condition neither the person with the heart defect, nor his or her family members forgets is there. 

    Broken Hearts offers families and survivors a place to celebrate life; find hope, compassion and understanding; and share information and resources.

Supporting Our Families

Broken Hearts hosts and sponsors regular get-togethers, family gatherings, picnics, and speaker-led meetings. Broken Hearts also: 
  • connects families for compassionate support ;
  • offers support and help during hospitalizations and crises;
  • offers an  adult CHD survivors meeting group;
  • provides written, Internet and personal stories as resources of information;
  • raises awareness about frequency of congenital heart defects and the affects they have on their survivors and families.

Join Our Circle of Support

Broken Hearts has a place for you and your family. To receive more information about Broken Hearts of the Big Bend, to find a family to talk to,  or to learn about upcoming events, contact Karen Thurston Chavez or Kim Rooks.

Or, download our membership form.