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Our Mission

We are a patient led charity that engages, educates, and empowers people living with heart disease improving their quality of life.

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About us

HeartLife is one of North America’s leading patient-led heart disease charities. Our mission is to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, empower patients, families, and caregivers through education and support, and advocate for better, more equitable care.

About Us

Our Community

Living with cardiovascular disease can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone. Our support group is a safe, welcoming space for patients and caregivers to connect, share experiences, and find encouragement. Together, we form a community that understands the journey and offers hope, empathy, and practical advice. Join us and discover the power of support—because #itsaboutlife, not failure.

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Support 

for Everyone

HeartLife Foundation empowers patients, supports caregivers, and collaborates with healthcare partners 
to transform the heart health journey through education, advocacy, and community connection.

For Patients

Educate & Empower

HeartLife provides patients with essential tools, resources, and peer support to take control of their heart health journey and make informed decisions about their care.

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For CareGivers

Support & Guide

HeartLife offers caregivers practical resources, emotional support networks, and educational materials to help them effectively care for their loved ones while maintaining their own wellbeing.

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For Partners

Collaborate & Advocate

HeartLife works with healthcare professionals, organizations, and policymakers to advance heart care standards, share best practices, and drive systemic improvements in patient outcomes.

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Latest News & Stories

March 1, 2026

Jenny's Story: Reflecting on Five Years Since Heart Failure

For Jenny, February 24th is a date etched into her memory and her heart: A yearly milestone that brings a complex mix of gratitude and vulnerability as it crosses the 5 year mark. While others see a mask…
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Blog

November 26, 2025

Edwina’s Story: Total Heart Warrior!

What a roller coaster life has been. From my first symptoms at thirteen during a cross-country ski race to a heart transplant decades later, my journey with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been one of resilience, advocacy, and fighting to be heard.
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Blog

November 4, 2025

Nancy's Story: Five Stents and a Second Chance at Life

When Nancy Hansen was diagnosed with genetic high cholesterol at 19, she couldn't have known the journey ahead. After her father's early death from heart disease…
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Blog

September 25, 2025

Jenna's Story: From Heart Failure to New Beginnings at 20

I was 20 years old when I experienced heart failure due to severe dilated cardiomyopathy. One week I felt okay for the most part; the next, I had all the…
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Blog

September 12, 2025

Julie's Story: Living with Complex Congenital Heart Disease – Held Together by Hope

My journey with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) began at birth. 1 in 100 babies are born with CHD. My first heart surgery was at two days old and then…
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Blog

September 12, 2025

Meet Bonnie: HeartLife’s Nursing Champion, caregiver, and passionate advocate for patients and families.

For Bonnie, the heart has always been a source of fascination. Drawn to fitness and inspired by the incredible complexity of the human heart the way its four…
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Blog

Events

Webinar Series

HeartLife E3 Series (EP 4): Safe Use of AI in Researching & Managing Our Heart Health

E3 Webinar Series: Engage. Educate. Empower.

📅     March 11
🕛     9 AM PT | 10 AM MT | 11 AM CT | 12 PM ET | 1 PM AT

We are proud to continue E3: Engage, Educate, Empower, HeartLife’s webinar series designed to connect lived experience with trusted clinical expertise, all centered on the topics that matter most to our community.

This session explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in how we research, understand, and manage our heart health. Many people are turning to AI tools for quick, accessible health information. While these tools can be powerful learning supports, it is important to understand how to use them safely, thoughtfully, and alongside trusted care.

Nadine Ramdial will share her heart story, reflecting on how she has used technology to track and manage symptoms, as well as her curiosity and hesitation around using AI tools available online.

Dr. Bahareh Taji, an AI Engineer at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, will offer insight into how AI tools are developed and how they function within healthcare and research settings. Drawing on her background in biomedical engineering and her leadership of AI initiatives at the institute, Dr. Taji will discuss the responsible use of AI in cardiac research and provide guidance on how patients can safely use AI tools to support their heart health.

The session will conclude with a moderated Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with both perspectives.

Whether you are living with cardiovascular conditions, supporting someone who is, or looking to better understand how emerging technologies fit into heart care, this webinar offers education, insight, and empowerment you can take forward with confidence.

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Webinar Series

HeartLife E3 Series (EP 1): Understanding the Role of Inflammation in Heart Disease

We're thrilled to share our first E3 webinar episode featuring Dr. Katey Rayner and our patient partner Francine!

In this webinar you will delve into the deep and intricate health history of Francine who bravely shares her journey and experience with inflammation. The dialogue between her and Dr. Rayner offers enrichment to our understanding of inflammation in the context of heart conditions.

Some Important Takeaways:

  • Inflammation is a fundamental but complex contributor to heart disease, intertwined with cholesterol and immune system activity.
  • Managing heart disease requires a multifaceted approach: lifestyle, medication, and sometimes procedural interventions.
  • Residual inflammatory risk highlights the need to address inflammation beyond traditional cholesterol control.
  • Ongoing research aims to better understand molecular mechanisms and develop targeted therapies.
  • Patients should avoid self-blame and utilize all available tools, balancing lifestyle changes with medical advice.
  • The interplay of genetics and environment means personalized care is essential.
watch the full video

Webinar Series

HeartLife E3 Series (EP 2): Mental Health – The Hidden Side of Heart Disease

We’re proud to share the second episode of our E3 webinar series, featuring award-winning artist Jordan Danger and world-renowned health psychologist Dr. Samuel Sears!

In this episode, Jordan shares her powerful journey of living with an undiagnosed arrhythmia, the struggle to be heard by medical professionals, and how she eventually found healing through both surgery and art. Dr. Sears joins the conversation to bridge the gap between cardiology and psychology, explaining why “there is no such thing as cardiology without psychology.”

Some Important Takeaways:

  • Cardiology and Psychology are Intertwined: Successful management of heart disease requires understanding that what affects the heart inevitably affects the mind.
  • The Danger of Disengagement: Withdrawing from daily life can undermine recovery; physical and mental health are best improved by safely re-engaging with meaningful activities.
  • Building a Support Lifeline: Recovery is a team sport that relies on identifying reliable advocates within your personal circle and your medical team.
  • Gratitude and Awe: Actively seeking moments of awe and practicing gratitude are scientifically backed tools to help balance the psychological burden of chronic illness.
  • Empowered Self-Advocacy: Navigating the healthcare system requires persistence; patients should seek providers who offer emotional validation alongside technical care.
watch the full video

Our Support Group

The HeartLife Foundation is a patient-driven charity whose mission is to transform the quality of life for people living with heart disease by engaging, educating, and empowering a global community to create lasting solutions and build healthier lives. 

Join our Help for Hearts closed Facebook group to get support and share ideas.

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Have your voice heard. If you are a patient, family member or friend of someone with lived experience of heart disease or if you are a practitioner, allied health professional, not-for-profit or corporate partner, or simply a concerned citizen – Become a member – it’s free.

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Women @ HEartlife

The HeartLife Foundation is proud to support the Canadian Women with Medical Heart Issues Facebook group. 

HeartLife joins the mission of this group, lead by our HeartLife Champion Jackie, to inspire and support women living with heart disease to Live Bravely & Love Boldly every day. We are stronger together.

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