Preface to the 1994 Edition

Foreword

Introduction

1 AT THE HOSPITAL
Living in Limbo
Making Yourself at Home
Combating Helplessness
Bridging Communication
Nourishing Yourself
Before You Leave . . .

2 ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
New Ingredients
Getting Your Rest
Working Out Work
Simple Pleasures
On The Road Again
Who Are You Now? 
   A Question of Identity
Coping with Change

3 AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Those Powerful Feelings
Anxiety, the Great Paralyzer
The Ogre, Anger
Sadness, the Heavy Weight
The Grasp of Guilt
Working with Changing Feelings
Seeking Support
Reaching Out

4 KEEPING YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT
Directing Communications
What You Need to Know 
   about Your Thinking
Untangling the Web
Accentuate the Positive
Five Elements of Clear Thinking 
  Before Making a Decision
Considering the Deeper Questions

5 SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility and Love
Responsibility and Fear
The Stress Syndrome
From Caring to Caretaking
From Patient to Partner

6 DOES TIME HEAL ALL WOUNDS?
Grief and Loss
The Healing Process
Recognizing Your Wounds
Facing Reality
Releasing Feelings
The Power of Images
Updating Your Images
Forgiveness
Sources of Support
Turning Toward the Future...

7 FROGS DON'T TURN INTO PRINCES,
 BUT MEN BECOME HEARTMATES
Out of the Loop - In the Hospital
Balancing the Two Sides of a Coin
When the Tables Are Turned
Shifting Gears
Down Shifting
The Emotional Poker Game
Male Bonding -
   The Need for Camaraderie
Taking Care of Business
Getting in Touch Again
Software and Hard Drive
Top Ten Reminders for Male Heartmates

8 RE-PAIRING THE HEARTMATE
 CONNECTION
Communication between Heartmates
Myths to Dispel
Sexuality and the Cardiac Relationship
Sexuality and Self-image
Beyond Facts about Sexuality
Healing the Heartmate Relationship...

9 HEART DISEASE IS A FAMILY AFFAIR
Changing Family Rules and Roles
Major Issues Confronting
   Cardiac Families
Role Reversals
Dealing with Cardiackids
Your Children's Right to Know
Helping Your Children Heal
Concerning Blended, Broken,
   and Alternative Families
Family Heartache
Recovery and Hope for the
Cardiac Family
A Note to Cardiackids

10 OPENING YOUR HEART

Appendix A: Diagrams of the Heart
Appendix B: Self-help Tools
Appendix C: Heartmates Recommended
   Reading List
Appendix D: An Essay on Loneliness
Appendix E: An Essay on Stress
Glossary: Medical Terms
Bibliography
Index