Partners In Health: Charlie and Kathy Digges

Partners In Health: Charlie and Kathy Digges

By: Madison Burke

Most 96-years-olds aren’t taking float trips and golfing on a regular basis, but Charlie Digges isn’t your average 96-year-old. Charlie and his wife, Kathy, work out every day they can, either at their local gym or by taking walks near their home.

“Charlie has a trainer that he sees several times a week. The other days I get to be his trainer,” Kathy says with a laugh. 

Kathy and Charlie have a 27-year age difference between them. Kathy says when she and Charlie first started dating, he tried to tell her she should marry someone her own age, but she told him that he’s the one for her. The couple married in 1970. Exercising together has been an important part of their 45-year marriage. 

“It all began about 50 years ago, when a doctor friend of mine had lunch with us and told us we should start exercising,” Kathy says. “He bought us the Air Force exercise book. From that time on, we’ve been working out.”

But Charlie has had some health concerns over the years, particularly with his heart. He had an irregular heartbeat and had a pacemaker put in five years ago. Charlie often talks about how grateful he is to his cardiologist, Jerry Kennett, MD for his committed care. 

“The day Dr. Kennett agreed to be my doctor was the luckiest day of my life,” Charlie says. “He has taken great care of me. He’s my dear friend and a wonderful doctor.”

Charlie’s pacemaker surgery was performed at Boone Hospital Center. Charlie and Kathy say they were impressed with the care they got at the hospital. 

“All of the nurses were very kind and everyone worked well with Dr. Kennett,” Charlie says.

The couple also enjoyed getting a heart pillow from the Boone Hospital Foundation during Charlie’s stay.

“It was such a nice touch,” Kathy says. “It made us really appreciate all the Foundation does for our community.”

Dr. Kennett, who is also Kathy’s doctor, says the Digges are a wonderful example of a couple committed to their health. He’s amazed at how they encourage each other and have made exercise a part of their everyday life.

“Kathy’s like the ‘general’ in Charlie’s life when it comes to exercise,” Dr. Kennett says. “She’s honestly the reason he’s alive today. She has helped him recover from surgery and remain strong.”

Dr. Kennett says it’s well documented how important a strong support system is for one’s health. He says people with a supportive partner have been shown to heal faster, live longer and have a better quality of life.

“We’re partners in health, and we’re partners in life,” Kathy says. “We’ve been very blessed. We have each other, we have our conviction to stay healthy, we have the grace of God, and we’ve had great luck.”