The annual Wear Red Breakfast took place at the Tiger Point Event center recently, kicking off the month long celebration of heart health month. 

Women of all ages, and even some men, showed up to breakfast sporting as much red as they could handle to learn more about heart health and how it affects women. Speakers included cardiologist Dr Janiera , Putnam County Hospital Heart Health team Anne Wilkey and Nancy Kittle, and Courtney Dickey, fifth grade teacher at Tzouanakis located in Greencastle.

With the help of a pre-recorded video, Dickey gave an emotional telling of the events that led to the heart attack she had during the height of the pandemic. Dickey and her husband had decided to take a leisurely trip, taking advantage of the unique opportunity the temporary remote education system offered. However, a tragic accident would take her husband from her, leading her on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the day. By the time the tragic day ended, she was in the hospital due to a stress-induced heart attack. 

She spent a week in the hospital before being released and was told she needed heart rehabilitation. After a year of working with Putnam County Hospital’s team, she is feeling healthy again.

When Putnam County Hospital’s Director of Marketing and Community Relations Brooke Trissel asked Dickey to the front, Dickey thought she was just giving a shout out to the team that helped her overcome her heart attack. Instead, Courtney Dickey was given roses to celebrate her healthy heart. 

The overarching message delivered at the breakfast is that it's never too early to look after your heart, but it can be too late.