Staying Connected

After my recent renal dissection, kidney infarction, and iliac dissection with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS), I wanted to know what emotional recovery was like for others after medical events. This episode features clips of people with VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz syndromes, sharing what emotional recovery was like for them after diagnosis, major medical events and the loss of loved ones...

My brother, Jacob Frederick, rejoins the show. Our last interview was only a couple weeks before my recent renal artery dissection/kidney infarction and iliac dissection. In this episode, we talk about both of our experiences with those medical events in November and the aftermath.  Jon Holtom Adventuresinlove4Andie Ryan Rodarmer Benjamin Weisman Fiona McIver Share Post Share Source

Today we’re going to hear from Sheila Felske, who is joining us to share her experience with Vascular Ehlers-Danos Syndrome (VEDS), which she was diagnosed with last year. Sheila had her first carotid artery dissection soon after her first daughter was born, and then had an achilles tendon rupture after her second daughter was born. Then in 2022, she had a vertebral artery dissection and her carot...

Deb Kruk was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) in her mid-60s, following the loss of her 40 year old son, Brian, to an aortic dissection. They did not know Brian had VEDS when he died. In this episode, she shares that experience, processing her own diagnosis, things she loved about Brian, and more. Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan...

Betsy Matarrita was born and raised in Costa Rica, and was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome when she was a young child. Growing up, she didn’t know anyone else with Marfan syndrome, and they had to come to the US to get medical care for scoliosis as a child, when her and her family did not speak English. In this episode, she shares her medical story, and her story of connecting with the Marfan commu...

Roe Nania shares her family’s story with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (VEDS). Roe’s brother, Angelo, was the first person diagnosed in the family, and died from an aortic dissection in 2019. After his death, more members of the family got tested and diagnosed, and it’s assumed that her father also died from VEDS.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Ma...

Kevin Kroeker shares his story with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which he was diagnosed with in his 50s after a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). His Loeys-Dietz diagnosis explained a prior event with his carotid artery, and uncovered a larger family history of Loeys-Dietz. Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsmovement.o...

Tyler Farley was originally on Staying Connected in 2022 to share his story with VEDS or Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. He returns in this episode to share his recent experience with a bowel perforation in the fall of 2023, and how he is moving forward, as well as his experience meeting other people in person with VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz at The Marfan Foundation Conference in 2023.  Find m...

Liam Nelson was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome when he was 11 years old. In this interview, we talk about how he handled his diagnosis, his career in film and comedy, his involvement in the Marfan community, and more. Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsmovement.org , loeysdietz.org , and marfan.org .  If you would like...

Lauren Atherton was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz syndrome after an aortic dissection when she was 28 years old. In this interview, we talk about that dissection, how she’s dealt with her diagnosis, and more.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsmovement.org , loeysdietz.org , and marfan.org .  If you would like to sha...

Michelle Lucena was diagnosed with VEDS, or Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, after two carotid artery dissections. In this interview, we talk about how these dissections affected her military career, how she’s handled her diagnosis, and how she’s held onto her passion of physical fitness. Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsm...

Taborski McClellen was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome between 12-13 years old. In the time since his diagnosis, he’s had two retinal detachments, a lung collapse, and an aortic dissection. In this interview, he talks about his story with Marfan, and his book, Living with Marfan syndrome in the Hands of GOD.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and...

I was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS), in 2017. In this episode, I’m joined by my brother, Jacob Frederick, to talk about his experience with my diagnosis and hospitalizations.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsmovement.org , loeysdietz.org , and marfan.org .  If you would like to share your...

Allison’s son, James, was diagnosed with Marfan when he was 3 years old, following a lens dislocation. James is now 8 years old, and in this episode, Allison talks about his diagnosis story, how they handle communicating Marfan with James, research, navigating the US healthcare care system, and more.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-...

Grace Barnhart was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome when she was 4 years old. She’s also a caregiver to her dad who has Marfan syndrome. In this episode, she talks about growing up with Marfan, getting involved in advocacy and community at a young age, medical events she’s dealt with of her own and of her dad’s, and how she lives her life as a young adult knowing she has Marfan. Find more informatio...

Mary Meyers’ daughter, Adalynn, was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome when she was about a year and half old. In this episode, Mary tells the story of Adalynn’s diagnosis following problems with feeding, food allergies, cleft palate, hypermobility, and more, as well as her experience as a parent learning to live with this diagnosis and become an informed advocate for her daughter.  Find more inf...

I (Katie) am currently the hospital with a renal artery dissection and kidney infarction. This show will take a pause, and the season will be resumed when I am feeling up to it. Thanks for all your support! Share Post Share Source

Brent Tuinstra was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) in his thirties after a bowel perforation. In this episode, Brent talks about the experience with the bowel perforation, the misdiagnosis of Crohn’s that came before his VEDS diagnosis, what it felt like getting diagnosed with VEDS, and how he’s gotten involved since.  Find more information, including support groups and...

Dominga Noe was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome at 9 years old following her father’s aortic dissection. Since her diagnosis, she’s become very involved in the community, and now runs the teen program as an employee of The Marfan Foundation.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsmovement.org , loeysdietz.org , and marfan.o...

Delaney Kinstner was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome after a serious medical event 10 days after delivering her child caused her to be sedated and on ECMO for several weeks.  Find more information, including support groups and webinars, about VEDS, Marfan, and Loeys-Dietz, at thevedsmovement.org , loeysdietz.org , and marfan.org .  If you would like to share your story wit...

Kristen St. John, whose daughter Marcie was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or VEDS, shares her and Marcie’s experience with diagnosis and life with VEDS, including a bowel perforation that Marcie had at 4 years old. Find more information about VEDS, including support groups and medical webinars, at thevedsmovement.org   If you would like to share your story with VEDS, M...

Peter Donato, who was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, or LDS, in fifth grade, shares his experience growing up with LDS, being involved in the community and the teen program at The Marfan Foundation, and its division, the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation, and adapting his love of sports to his life with LDS while maintaining his health.  Find more information about LDS including support g...

Jacqui Fish, whose 24 year-old son George has vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) shares her experience as mom and George’s experience with VEDS, including a number of serious medical events, including a bowel perforation, artery dissections, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and pneumothorax.  Find more information about VEDS including support groups and medical we...

In this episode of Staying Connected, we talk to Ben Weisman, who was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome at birth and is the third generation in his family to live with Marfan syndrome. Ben shares his story of growing up with Marfan, finding and building community, his involvement in the teen program at the Marfan Foundation, and his journey into politics. Find more information about Marfan, including...

In this episode of Staying Connected, we talk to Mikala Tingley, whose brother, David had Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS). David passed away at the age of 24, and was diagnosed with VEDS after his death. Mikala is joining to share his story with VEDS. Please be advised, this episode does contain some graphic details about David’s death, which may be disturbing to some listeners. Please prac...