You may feel as though your whole world has turned upside down when you discover that your child has a heart defect. You are not alone.

• One-to-one Support
  Connect with families who share your experiences. Parent volunteers are available to provide you with support after diagnosis, before surgery and at other times during your journey. Click here for Contact information.
  
  
• Group Support
  Share information and discuss the challenges of growing up with a heart defect at monthly Heart to Heart meetings. Children can play and adults can talk at this informal group. Click here for more information about Heart to Heart.
  
  
• Peer Support
  For fun activities once a month throughout the school year, tweens and teen can join Off Beats. The focus is having fun with peers who know what it is like to have a heart defect. Younger children can play with their peers at Heart to Heart meetings and during the various family gatherings throughout the year. For more information about peer support visit the Off Beats pages and Heart to Heart pages.
  
  
• Information
  Keeping the Beat is a newsletter that provides you with the latest information regarding pediatric cardiology, resource suggestions, personal stories, and upcoming events. Heart Beats also supplies "Heart & Soul: Your Guide to Living with Heart Disease" information binders which are available through the ACH Cardiology Clinic. Subscribe to the Newsletter.
  
  
• Family Gathering and Social Events
  Celebrate Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7-14) with the Annual Heart Beats Family Event. This, and other events throughout the year, give your family an opportunity to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Check for upcoming events on our Calendar.
  
  
• Financial Support
  Heart Beats provides resources and supplemental equipment to the Cardiology Clinic at the Alberta Children's Hospital and provides financial assistance if you are having difficulty meeting expenses related to your child's heart defect. For more information about financial assistance, please speak with one of the nurses in the Cardiology Clinic at the Alberta Children's Hospital.