Category: News

Heart Support Australia’s (HSA) Peer Support Group in Caboolture has a new leader with the groups starting back on Saturday 17 February.

The HSA Peer Support Groups give post-heart event support for cardiac patients, they are unique communal support programs that offer comfort and guidance to those who have recently undergone a heart event and for those who have experienced heart conditions and rehabilitation.

HSA CEO Dr Christian Verdicchio says, “Unfortunately, far too often when people are diagnosed with or undergo treatment for a heart condition, they don’t have ongoing support and that can be incredibly isolating.

“Our support groups are designed to ensure our patients are staying on the path to a healthier life by making it known to them that they are not alone because they are interacting with their leader and group members who have gone through similar circumstances,” he says.

Leading the Caboolture Peer Support Group for the first time is Cassie O’Brien who was diagnosed with congenital heart disease at birth and as a result, was not expected to live past the age of three.

“I had two open heart surgeries, one at 18 months and the second at three years old,” Cassie says.

“I survived both and have just turned 40,” she says.

In Australia, around nine in every 1,000 babies are affected by congenital heart disease.

Cassie has been a member of HSA for over 10 years, finding that living with a chronic illness while being a mother is a much harder task than most realise.

At twenty years old Cassie gave birth to her only son against all odds.

“I was told I shouldn’t have another kid and I spent three months in hospital recovering from the impact childbirth had on my heart,” Cassie says.

“I felt lost trying to navigate how to raise a child while chronically ill – there is no user manual for that.”

As HSA’s youngest Peer Support Group leader, Cassie aims to be an outlet for people who have gone through or are going through heart issues.

“It’s hard for people to fully understand what it’s like to be a heart patient unless you’ve been through it yourself – it is alienating to live with heart disease,” she says.

“There’s a different kind of support from people who have experienced what you have experienced first-hand.

“It’s a safe space where you can just vent – all those crappy hospital appointments, new
medications, new testings, the group is for people to meet people they can call or catch up for a coffee and share their experiences,” Cassie concludes.

The peer support program initiative derives from a new era of managing heart disease that empowers heart patients with education, improved self-esteem, and larger support networks that result in less of a strain on our health system with fewer hospital stays and trips to the GP.

Christian continues, “Heart Support Australia would like to extend a huge thank you to former leaders Steve Dunchouk and Cecil Nielson, who finished up with us last year. They have helped countless heart patients in the local community feel supported in their recovery for the last 20 years.”

The Caboolture Peer Support Group session will take place on Saturday 17 February and then the second Saturday of each month thereafter at the Bronze Room, Caboolture Sports Central.

Heart Support Australia encourages people to get involved with the community support session by getting in touch with group leader Cassie O’Brien at cassieobrien@outlook.com.au or 0416 688 452.