Erlanger’s newborns send messages to moms during Heart Month

Chattanooga, Tenn. – Thanks to the handy craft work of two Erlanger Health System cardiac rehabilitation nurses and the dedicated time of a cardiac survivor, babies at Erlanger East and Erlanger Baroness Campuses were able to send an important message to their mothers today.    

To create more awareness for heart disease – particularly women and heart disease – Debbie Croft and Dee Clark crafted tiny red caps for newborns at the birthing facilities today.  The red caps were placed on the newborns in the nursery, and the babies were returned to their mothers’ rooms with this message:

Dear Mommy,

I’m wearing this cute little red hat to remind you to love your heart like you love me.  Heart Disease is the number one killer of women.  So please take care of your heart because I’m gonna need you a long time. 

Love, Your Baby, Official Sponsor Newborns Go Red for Women

Star Davis Billups, a cardiac survivor of 7 months after giving birth to her baby girl and having a cardiac episode a month later, was also on hand to speak to one of the new mothers about the importance of staying healthy, communicating with doctors and to making sure any health problems are checked out.

“I didn’t have any complications or signs of heart damage while I was pregnant,” explained Mrs. Davis.  “I thought I was too young to have this happen to me.  No matter how old or how healthy you think you are, it can still happen to you.”

Red Hats for Babies wasn’t the only Red program that took place at Erlanger today.  City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County representatives; Erlanger associates, cardiac specialists and administration representatives; and representatives from the Hamilton County Chapter of the American Heart Association were all on hand to proclaim February, 7, 2014 as Go Red Day in Chattanooga during a special presentation this afternoon.  Employees throughout the health system were seen wearing red or displaying the Go Red Dress lapel pin.