Later this month, my daughter Mia will face her third major aortic surgery in just over two years. This time, it’s for a Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm (TAAA) — one of the most complex and high-risk surgeries there is. It will require a long hospital stay, a difficult recovery, and months before she can return to even a fraction of her normal routine.

Our journey with this disease began long before her first surgery. When I was 31, I was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome (LDS) — a rare connective tissue disorder that causes the aorta and other arteries to weaken and form aneurysms. Since that diagnosis, I have personally endured four open-heart surgeries to repair my own aorta. At the time, Mia was tested and we learned she also carried the same faulty gene. We knew it meant a lifetime of careful monitoring and the possibility of major surgeries — but nothing could have prepared us for how quickly it would all unfold.

I still remember the day doctors told me Mia’s scans showed her aorta was dissecting and enlarging. That sinking feeling in my chest, the fear no parent ever wants to face, came rushing in. I had been through the surgeries myself, so I knew exactly what lay ahead — the pain, the uncertainty, and the long road back. While I still face the possibility of two more surgeries myself, it brings me immense relief and happiness that Mia’s third surgery will fully replace her entire aorta, hopefully sparing her from any further major repairs. I would have taken her place in an instant if I could.

In August 2023, Mia had her first surgery, an intense and life-saving operation to repair part of her aorta. I sat in the waiting room for hours, praying for updates, holding onto hope with everything I had. The relief when the surgeon finally came out to say she had made it through was overwhelming. We hoped that surgery would give her years of stability.

But just a year later, in September 2024, she faced her second surgery. It was another long, grueling day in the hospital, another recovery filled with pain, medication schedules, follow-up scans, and the emotional strain of knowing the battle wasn’t over. We clung to the idea that maybe — just maybe — this would be the last one for a long while.

Now, less than a year after that, doctors have told us she cannot wait any longer to repair the growing aneurysm in her thoracoabdominal aorta. Because LDS makes her connective tissue fragile, aneurysms form more quickly, and the risk of rupture is always looming. This surgery will be the final step in completely replacing her entire aorta — from top to bottom — something most people will thankfully never have to endure once, let alone three times before the age of 28.

Each surgery has meant months without work, significant medical and travel costs, and the emotional toll of watching my daughter fight for her life again and again. Each time we find out she needs another surgery, we’re still trying to recover from the last one — never fully back on our feet before having to face it all over again.

Through it all, Mia has shown courage, resilience, and determination. She’s more than a patient — she’s a daughter, a friend, and a light in so many people’s lives.

We’ve been so grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and generosity that helped us through her first two surgeries — it gave us hope and the strength to keep going. We are once again humbly asking for your support. Whether it’s through a donation, sharing this page, or keeping us in your prayers, you are helping us carry this burden and letting Mia know she’s not alone in this fight.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.