Fondation en coeur English Parents’ meetings
The En Cœur Foundation is proud to offer a new 2026–2027 session of the support group for parents of children with heart disease in English and French.
Note: this is a new group (in English) and we might have a limited number of participants as the group grows and gets known. Make sure to share the information with other parents you know and register as early as possible for the sessions you want to participate in as some sessions might be canceled if there’s not enough registered participants.
Discuss in a group your experiences and reality as parents of a child with heart disease with other parents who are experiencing the same reality, in a space marked by respect, kindness and solidarity.
Facilitated group from October to May, 90 minutes monthly on Tuesday evenings (7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., 8 meetings), theme at each session which can change during the meeting according to the needs of the participants present that day.
None! Just your desire to actively participate and be kind.
Anouk Brière, social worker, have several years of experience in practice and in facilitating support groups.
Registration required at least 3 days before the meeting
For any questions, please contact: abriere-godbout@en-coeur.org
THEMES AND SCHEDULE
2026
September
23 Debrief Your Story: Share your story from when your child was diagnosed to today with parents who understand your situation. Talking openly about your story in a safe space without having to explain everything often helps you process things differently.
October
21 Stress, Anxiety and Managing Our Emotions: Learn more about the impact of the anxiety you experience on your children’s development (you might be surprised!) and discuss your lived experience with the other parent present.
November
18 Managing My Child’s Behaviors and Reactions Before, During, and After Hospitalizations: Hospital stays are stressful and overwhelming times for you, your child, and the entire family. How can you better understand and support their reactions?
Share your experiences and strategies for making these periods less anxiety-inducing and easier to manage.
December
2 Explaining the Heart Condition (to My Child, Family, School, etc.): To discuss the challenges and good ideas for explaining your child’s situation to those around you and to your child themselves.
2027
January
20 When Everything Is Going Well… but You’re Still Stressed: After months—or even years—of constant stress over our child’s life, changing our mindset can be difficult. Even when things are going well medically, anxiety can linger. Why is that? And how can it be eased?
Come and talk about it with other parents going through the same experience, and clarify what is still useful and what can be left behind.
February
17 Coping with Parental Guilt: From “I shouldn’t have had that drink at the beginning of the pregnancy,” to “Did we do the right thing keeping the baby?” to “I should have seen that my child wasn’t doing well,” the journey of parents of children with cardio-related conditions often rhymes with feelings of guilt. Come and chat with other parents who understand, are going through the same thing, and don’t judge, and perhaps leave with a little less guilt.
March
17 Growing Up with a Heart Condition: The Life Stages: From infancy to adulthood, a child with a heart condition faces unique challenges at every stage of life. How do we support them through these transitions while fostering their independence and confidence?
Join us to share experiences, concerns, and strategies for helping your child thrive at every age.
April
28 Beyond Cardio: Focusing on My Child as a Whole: Cardiac issues can sometimes take up all the space, especially around the time of surgeries. But your child is more than just their heart condition. A discussion about the role the illness plays in your life and in your child’s development.
May
26 Travel and Vacations: Organiser un voyage avec un enfant cardiaque peut être complexe (assurances, quoi faire en cas d’urgence, quoi préparer,etc).
Partagez vos conseils, astuces et retours d’expérience pour voyager dg pouvoir en profiter aussi.