Our 1st group was started back in June '06 after careful consultation with Heart Failure Specialists, Trent Cardiac Network & Cardiac Team at Lincoln County Hospital. This all came about in Jan'05 because my husband Gordon, who'd had 4 Heart Attacks & 2 Open Heart Surgery operations spanning some 30 years also suffered from Heart Failure. His condition had worsened, yet what did it all mean?
The future looked bleak.
After much research and many blind alleys, we kept coming back to the same thought - even IF ... what IF ... . The one thing we had been given was not medical, but HOPE ... ; that needed to be captured!
I began to realise the benefits a group of people would gain by coming together with empathy and understanding, without explanation. Heart Failure is not easily understood, and there were no specific support mechanisms in place.
Whilst there are other groups in Lincolnshire and across the Country offering Cardiac support, we differ in that we tailor our groups around 'Living' with Heart Failure and its associated Long Term Conditions. HOPE focuses on what each person CAN DO within their capabilities, meeting some of the emotional needs for patients, carers and their families.
Pauline Mountain
Founder, Hearts of Positive Energy
Some changes are inflicted upon us that we can’t change yet we have choices as to how we deal with them. My personal situation has changed and I wondered how this would impact on HOPE, as I no longer had an immediate need since Gordon passed away. However, my passion to develop HOPE has not in any way been lost, I need to keep my grey matter going and there is still a huge need to influence future Heart Failure services and most importantly to support our existing and future members! I’m hopeful that we can replicate HOPE groups in other areas whilst maintaining and progressing the existing groups. To be able to achieve this I have to be patient as we not only need funding, which in this economic climate poses a challenge, we also need more expertise in the way of volunteers to run new groups and admin support to develop the network.
Our aims are -
BHF Coffee Morning
The Coffee Morning held on Friday 26th February in aid of Britih Heart Foundation 'Wear Red Day' was a huge success and with the support of HOPE members and the local community of Timberland we raised over £300 for the organisation.
Community Group Of The Year
HOPE has been awarded the Good Citizen Community Group of The Year by Lincolnshire County Council. More information on news page.
'Our' Hearts Never Fail ...