Networking With Dr. Mani, Treating children with Congenital Heart Defects

February is many things. Valentines Day, Presidents Day, and most of all, it is Heart Month.

Valentines Day means red and pink hearts, flowers and chocolate. But it is also a reminder about Heart Month, whenever you see one of those little red dress pins that represent National Wear Red Day. The first Friday in February is a day when Americans nationwide are encouraged to wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer, but this can be changed. Through education and awareness men and women can join the fight against heart disease and change this sad statistic. This is a cause that I support with all of my heart.

During February I always think of Mended Hearts. I sometimes wear a button/pin that says "Ask Me About Mended Hearts". Mended Hearts was started over fifty years ago in 1951 in Boston. The group began when four people who has recently had open heart surgery formed a small support group under the guidance of their cardiac surgeon, Dr. Dwight Harken. I have been a card carrying member of this group for 47 years. The group was only ten years old, and open heart surgery was still in its infancy, when Dr. Harken did my surgery in the spring of 1962. As long as I live I will remember the support offered to me and my family by Mended Hearts during that scary experience.

Much has happened in the years since then. Doctors have learned so much and great advances have been accomplished. So many of us owe our lives to these doctors who developed technologies and perfected procedures to give us all new life.

Still every year children continue to be born with congenital heart defects. Dr. Mani works with these children in India. Many of their families are unable to pay for this expensive surgery. Every year on Valentines Day a special event celebrates Dr. Mani’s work and encourages support from all around the world. In September 2007 I participated in one of Dr. Mani’s miniblogs. At that time I created my first Squidoo lens, Networking Secrets. I have up-dated it many times since it was first created, but it still has those original networking marketing secrets which were the theme of that blog. It is also the place where my personal Cardiac Surgery Story is posted.

I trust that you now understand why February, as Heart Month, has extra special meaning for me. I wear my Mended Heart pin with pride and thanksgiving. I am a very fortunate lady and the zipper on this heart pin tells its own survival story.

Forty seven years after my cardiac surgery I continue to lead an active life as a senior building my own network marketing business plus teaching and writing about a variety of wellness issues. I have just returned from a week long Caribbean cruise with some of my team members and I am already implementing the new skills I learned on that trip. See my next post for my first video made with my Mentor Michael Dlouhy while on that cruise.

I support the wonderful work that Dr. Mani does to change the lives of children in India who are born with Congenital Heart Defects and I urge each of you to do the same.

Yes, February is my very favorite month because it is Heart Month.

Jane Avery©
The Wellness Lady