DENISON, TEXAS - We continue our 12 who care series with a local couple who dedicates countless hours to helping people through one of the most critical surgeries of their lives.

Nearly every week, families across the region fill this waiting room at Texoma Medical Center, waiting anxiously as their loved one goes in for one of the most critical operations on the human body - heart surgery.

But right by their side, to ease the nerves and make the wait a little less stressful, are Otis and Fran Higginbotham.

"We go in and see the patient before the surgery and sit with the family during the surgery and take the calls on the telephone and take that little bit of stress off of them," said the Higginbothams’.

Many families call them angels, but their official titles are heart menders. They are just two of many volunteers with TMC's Heart Mender Program. Each week they spend more than 20 hours with patients and their families walking with them every step of the way.

"We visit the patient until they leave the hospital, we see them at least once a day we go by and check how they are doing and say hi and wish them well," said Otis Higginbothams.

They do everything from explaining difficult medical terms to sitting with the family for up to 10 hours until the surgery is done. The reason this mission is so important to them is because Otis is a survivor of open-heart surgery.

"I can go in and talk to them and tell them 15 years or so ago, I had this and you can see them relax, its really remarkable," said Otis Higginbotham.

"A heart mender came and gave me reports when he [OTIS] was in there, it was so wonderful and I blessed that man because I could start breathing again," said Fran Higginbotham.

And during the recovery process they give the patient a special pillow, which is a sign of survival and hope for the future. Gail Davis is a volunteer at the ICU waiting room and sees first hand how the Higginbothams' support helps so many people.

"They are just such sweet people, they just go out of their way so much for people and they are just too great," said Davis.

That's why she decided to reward the couple who helps hundreds of people across Texoma.

"Otis and Fran I have nominated you for the KXII 12 who care program because I love you both, you are so sweet," said Davis.

And they hope to continue mending hearts and offering support for years to come.

"Anything I can do for them and he can do and we can do for them to relieve some of that stress," said the Higginbothams’.

And that's why the Higginbothams’ are one of our 12 Who Care.