During Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize that the impact of a genetic aortic or vascular condition extends beyond physical health. Medical trauma, recovery, uncertainty, and major life changes can also take a significant emotional toll. By sharing his experience after surviving aortic dissection, Marfan Foundation Board Member Joaquin Ramos, Jr. hopes to encourage others to prioritize their mental health alongside their physical recovery.
“Surviving something life-threatening doesn’t mean the struggle is over,” Joaquin said. “In many ways, that’s when a different kind of healing begins.”
A Life-Changing Emergency
When Joaquin experienced a Type A aortic dissection in July 2020, his life changed in an instant.
At 38 years old, he suddenly found himself facing emergency open-heart surgery after what first seemed like symptoms that could be explained away by stress. His left arm went numb, and he began sweating heavily while sitting at home in a cool environment. Like many people during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, he initially questioned whether stress and anxiety were playing a role.
But something felt wrong.
“Thankfully, my family encouraged me to go to the ER, which ultimately saved my life,” Joaquin said.
A CT scan revealed a Type A aortic dissection, and doctors told him he needed immediate surgery.
“What surprised me most was how quickly everything escalated, from thinking I would be discharged to preparing for life-saving surgery within minutes.”
During emergency surgery, surgeons repaired his thoracic aorta and replaced his aortic valve with a mechanical valve. Following surgery, Joaquin was also diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, which had been undetected his entire life.
The Physical and Emotional Toll
Joaquin spent five days in an induced coma and remained hospitalized for a month during a period when COVID restrictions prevented visitors. He temporarily lost his ability to speak because of vocal cord paralysis. Even walking became difficult.
But while the physical challenges were significant and the recovery long, the deeper emotional effects didn’t emerge until much later.
“The emotional impact didn’t fully hit me until after the physical recovery milestones were behind me,” Joaquin said. “Early on, I was so focused on surviving and healing physically that I didn’t give myself space to process what had actually happened.”
It wasn’t until life slowly returned to normal that the emotional weight of the experience began surfacing.
“It started to show up in quieter moments—feeling anxious about my health, thinking about how close I came to not being here, and becoming more aware of how fragile life really is.”
Like many survivors of medical trauma, Joaquin found himself carrying fears he struggled to share openly.
“One of the biggest was the fear of it happening again,” he said. “Even when I was told I was recovering well, that thought lingered in the back of my mind.”
He also felt pressure to appear strong for the people around him.
“There were moments where I questioned what my future would look like and whether I would ever feel fully like myself again,” he said. “Those thoughts were hard to express because I didn’t want to worry anyone or seem ungrateful for surviving.”
Finding Support Through Therapy
“Therapy played a critical role in helping me rebuild, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally,” Joaquin said. “It gave me a safe space to process everything I had gone through without feeling like I had to filter or protect others.”
One realization in particular changed how he approached recovery.
“One breakthrough moment for me was realizing that it was okay to not feel okay, even after surviving,” he said. “There was this expectation, both internally and externally, that I should just be grateful and move on.”
Therapy helped him understand that healing is not linear.
“That shift allowed me to stop suppressing emotions and start working through them in a healthier way.”
A Different Perspective on Life
Today, Joaquin says the experience transformed both his priorities and his perspective.
“I now prioritize my health daily like walking, maintaining a low-sodium diet, and staying consistent with medical care,” he said. “I also became more intentional about my relationships, mental health, and gratitude. In many ways, I am healthier now than I was before the dissection.”
He also describes a deeper change in how he sees himself and the role he hopes to play in the lives of others.
“I began to see myself not just as someone who succeeded professionally, but as someone who could make a meaningful impact in people’s lives,” Joaquin said. “It strengthened my empathy, my patience, and my desire to help others navigate their own transitions, whether in life, career, or health.”
A Message for Others Facing Medical Trauma
Joaquin hopes others facing medical trauma understand that emotional healing deserves just as much attention as physical recovery. He encourages others not to suffer in silence.
“Speaking up or seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s one of the strongest things you can do,” Joaquin said. “Whether it’s therapy, talking to a trusted person, or connecting with a community, those conversations can make a huge difference.”
Most importantly, he wants others to know there is hope beyond the trauma.
“Yes, there is life after this,” Joaquin said. “Even after facing near-death and major life changes, it is possible to rebuild, grow, and find purpose again.”
For Joaquin, one lesson continues to stand above the rest.
“One of the most important lessons has been forgiveness—letting go of past pain to move forward with peace.”
The Foundation offers many resources to help with mental health issues and overall wellbeing, Marfan.org/mental-health. Be sure to follow us on social media where we will be sharing tips and stories all month long.
Have a mental health-related question? Visit Marfan.org/ask.
The Marfan Foundation is a nonprofit organization that saves lives and improves the quality of life of individuals with genetic aortic and vascular conditions including Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Our vision is a world in which everyone with genetic aortic and vascular conditions can live their best life.