Oklahoma Support Group Recognized For Helping Families

A local support group is being recognized for being the calm during a terrifying time.

Mended Little Hearts of Oklahoma hosts all sorts of events, but its most important work is done when a young child or baby is about to have open heart surgery.

The support group works closely with OU Children’s Hospital and helps families with children who have congenital heart disease.

The heart defects are discovered many times before the child is even born.

“The freak out level with a child born with congenital heart disease is crazy,” said Jason Davey, whose son was required surgery seven days after he was born.

Davey serves on the board of Mended Little Hearts of Oklahoma and his wife Heather is the president.

The parents remember feeling lost before their son’s surgery until a fellow parent talked with them in the hospital.

“That mother took us by the hand and explained everything that was going to take place,” said Davey.

Liam Davey has had 3 surgeries but is doing great and is about to turn 6.

Mended Little Hearts of Oklahoma also has parents stay on after they’ve lost children to heart disease.

“I know exactly how we felt when we walked out of the hospital that evening when our son passed away. I feel called to help those families,” said Blake Mills.

The support shown to each other has been recognized by the Mended Hearts national organization.

Of hundreds of mended hearts groups nationwide, covering nearly 500 hospitals, the one in Oklahoma was just honored as the top chapter in the country.

“You don’t have to walk through this world dark anymore. We have the resources to assist you,” added Davey.