Goal: Raising awareness of STAT: Suspect, Time is Critical, Aortic Imaging, Talk About It
Seven leading North American nonprofits dedicated to aortic dissection awareness are uniting for the first time during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025. They are urging the public to think “STAT” and recognize the signs of aortic emergencies to save lives.
Aortic Hope, Genetic Aortic Disorders Association Canada (GADA), The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation Canada, the Marfan Foundation and its divisions, Rock from the Heart, and ThinkAorta US & Canada will stand together from September 14 – 20, 2025, with a social media awareness campaign. While each organization has its own distinct mission, their common aim is to help spare individuals and families the pain of aortic dissection-related loss while assisting survivors to thrive.
“For Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025, we join these organizations to shine a light on this often-overlooked condition,” said actor John Ritter’s widow and John Ritter Foundation founder Amy Yasbeck. “Together, we can spark conversations leading to earlier detection, better outcomes, and real hope for saving lives.” According to the Ritter Foundation, “up to 50% of people with an aortic dissection will lose their lives before reaching the hospital; 80% of people could survive with prompt diagnosis and treatment.”
The aortic organizations want everyone to know STAT:
- S – Suspect the warning signs of aortic dissection, which can include sudden-onset severe pain, especially in the neck, back, chest, or abdomen; numbness or weakness in limbs; and a history of collapse. Pain is often intense, migratory, and transient and may include sharp, tearing, or ripping sensations. During a dissection, people may experience a feeling that something is terribly wrong.
- T – Time is essential: Immediate emergency care and transport to a hospital with advanced surgical care capabilities are critical.
- A – Aortic Imaging: Once dissection is rapidly confirmed via aortic imaging (such as a CT scan), emergency surgery can save lives.
- T – Talk About It: Talking about dissection is critically essential: dissection often runs in families due to underlying genetic aortic conditions such as Marfan syndrome and related conditions. Family members may require genetic testing to diagnose these conditions, assess risk, and ensure appropriate medical monitoring. Survivors of dissection need support and community to thrive.
“An aortic dissection is an extraordinarily scary, life-changing event,” said dissection survivor and Marfan Foundation board member Joaquin Ramos, Jr. “I am blessed that the medical team treating me when I dissected knew the signs and saved my life. At 38, I didn’t know I had Marfan syndrome – a genetic aortic condition – and a much greater risk of a tear in my aorta with the power to end my life. Many people like me are unknowingly sent home from emergency rooms to die due to lack of awareness.”
Lindsey Rusche, Leader of Think Aorta Canada, said, “As someone living with aortic disease, I know how critical it is to be heard and taken seriously. Think Aorta Canada is here to make sure every patient’s story leads to faster recognition, better care, and saved lives.”
Likewise, for those like Lindsey and Joaquin who received surgical intervention quickly and survived aortic dissection, talking about dissection with family to assess genetic risk and working through the complexities of survivorship can be important parts of the recovery process.
“At Aortic Hope, a patient-led charity, we’re dedicated to supporting patients, survivors, and caregivers impacted by aortic disease. Through connection, resources, and community, we strive to bring hope and healing to those navigating these challenging health journeys,” said President Aortic Hope & Think Aorta US and survivor Carin Andersen.
People living with genetic aortic conditions like Loeys-Dietz, Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS), Marfan, and related conditions have aortic dissection risk that is about 250 times greater than that of the general population. Many are unaware of their conditions. Conversations with family about risk and genetic testing save lives.
“Loeys-Dietz syndrome affects the aorta, the body’s main artery. In this condition, the aorta can be prone to tearing (dissection), sometimes even at smaller diameters and younger ages than in other similar conditions. Because signs can vary from person to person, early recognition makes all the difference. With timely diagnosis, early genetic testing, and monitoring, individuals and families can take proactive steps to stay healthy. In Canada, improving access to care starts with awareness. This Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, we invite everyone to Think Aorta, Think Family…and to think Loeys-Dietz syndrome,” said Jida El Hajjar, Executive Director at the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation Canada.
GADA, which also serves Canada, focuses on education, advocacy, and research. “GADA is proud to join a united effort for Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, raising awareness of the signs, risks, and urgency of this condition to help protect hearts and save lives,” said GADA Executive Director Linda Malone.
Saving lives is heartfelt work for volunteers like Bridget Porter, who supports both the Marfan Foundation and the John Ritter Foundation in memory of her son Connor, who was lost to aortic dissection at only 13 years of age.
“Spreading love, hope, and awareness fills our cup and helps us to make meaning of our devastating loss…if not us, then who? Now that we understand the price of not knowing – it’s our mission to spare others our devastating loss in honor of our sweet Connor,” said Porter. Porter emphasized the need for increased awareness about genetic aortic conditions and elevated aortic dissection risk. “Connor had many of the ‘tell-tale traits’ indicative of Loeys-Dietz syndrome but went undiagnosed despite a consult with genetics and frequent specialty visits,” said Porter.
President and Executive Director of Rock from the Heart, Amy Johnson, summed up the life-saving spirit of this inaugural aortic non-profit organization’s alignment. “When organizations come together with a shared purpose, our impact multiplies. By collaborating across the aortic community, we can reach more people, spread life-saving awareness further, and ensure that no one facing aortic disease feels alone. Together, our voices are stronger, our message is louder, and our reach is wider.”
For media inquiries:
April Dawn Shinske, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, the Marfan Foundation
brandcomms@marfan.org
Related Links
- Aortic Hope – www.aortichope.org
- GADA – https://www.gadacanada.ca/
- The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health – https://johnritterfoundation.org/
- Loeys-Dietz Foundation Canada – https://loeysdietzcanada.org/
- The Marfan Foundation – www.marfan.org/aorticawareness | www.marfan.org
- Rock from the Heart – https://rockfromtheheart.org/
- Think Aorta Canada – www.thinkaorta.ca
- Think Aorta US – https://www.thinkaorta.us/
April Dawn Shinske is the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for The Marfan Foundation. She is proud to lead a stellar integrated marketing and communications team and honored to help tell the amazing stories of our community members.