Aortic Hope

Aortic Hope ♥️Aortic Hope is a community-led global organization that supports patients and caregivers during the recovery and management of Aortic Disease.

We spread hope, create awareness and provide support.

♥️Connecting Hearts One Beat At a Time Aortic Hope 2026 Board of Directors:
~Carin Andersen - Chair of the Board/Founder
~Terri Cook - President
~Jeni Shaffer - Vice President
~Deb Oxborough- Treasurer
~William (Bill) Barnhart - Director of Marfan Outreach & Community Outreach
~Sarah Coupland - Director of Social Media
~Deb Joly-Warcholik

- Asst. Treasurer/Director of Volunteer Services
~Robb Seltzer - Director of Support Services (Aortic Chef)
~Molly Thomas - Director of Social Media

The Board and Volunteers work tirelessly in managing their own Aortic Disease, personal lives as well as organizing fundraisers, online support groups, providing daily inspiration and wisdom, hope mail care packages, and MUCH, MUCH more.

*𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨. 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥-𝙩𝙤-𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮, 𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩.

𝘼𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

𝘽𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨, 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙖 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡.

09/02/2026

❤️ Hello, September — 𝑨𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉 is HERE! ❤️

🎉 Get ready for a month packed with contests, giveaways, and AHTV (YouTube) events featuring physicians—plus a few surprises we can’t wait to share!

🎗 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁!♥️
The first 𝟮𝟬 people (we lied we will giveaway until we have emptied a bag!) to hit 👍 Like on this post AND drop a ❤️ in the comments will receive a FREE awareness bracelet!

😊 We’ll message you to collect your mailing address.

📅 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿!
🚫 Offering a contest with one or more winners per week. Prizes range from magnets or decals up to water bottles or mugs—but don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of other contests and surprise prizes coming your way!

Let’s make this Awareness Month unforgettable! 💪

09/02/2026

❤️ It's Month - KNOW YOUR AORTA. KNOW YOUR RISK. KNOW AORTIC HOPE.

The aorta is the body’s largest artery. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Aortic disease includes:

🫀 Aortic aneurysm — a weakened area where the aorta becomes enlarged or bulges.
🫀 Aortic dissection — a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, which is rare but can become life-threatening.
🫀 Aortic valve disease — problems with the valve between the heart and aorta, including bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).

Aortic disease often has a genetic or familial component, meaning your family medical history can be an important clue to your risk. Some conditions can run in families even when no one has been diagnosed yet.

Common medical history and risk factors to know include:
• Aortic aneurysm or dissection in a parent, sibling, or child
• Bicuspid aortic valve or other congenital heart defects
• Connective tissue or genetic conditions associated with aortic disease
• High blood pressure, history of stroke or diabetes
• High cholesterol and cardiovascular disease
• Smoking history
• Previous heart or aortic surgery

Aortic disease is sometimes called a “silent killer” because it can develop with few or no obvious symptoms until a serious event occurs and an Aortic Dissection is a rare event.

❤️ Know your family history. Know your risk. Know your aorta.
When in doubt, check it out.

To learn more about the Aorta, go to:

https://www.aortichope.org/blog

09/02/2026

9/2
Please give a special Happy Aortaversary to the following people below.
If you would like to be acknowledged, please go to our Facebook album titled Aortaversary Club and under the appropriate photo (please choose one), put your name, date and year of your surgery or diagnosis.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1019667614871512&type=3

♥️
09/02/2026

♥️

🎱💙 Thank You, Sarah! 💙🎱A huge thank you to Sarah Coupland for hosting the very first Rack ’em for Rebecca Memorial Class...
09/01/2026

🎱💙 Thank You, Sarah! 💙🎱

A huge thank you to Sarah Coupland for hosting the very first Rack ’em for Rebecca Memorial Classic Pool Tournament in loving memory of her mother, Rebecca, and benefiting Aortic Hope.

Being together outside of Houston, TX this past weekend was such a beautiful way to honor her memory while bringing people together and supporting our aortic community. 🫀

We are incredibly grateful for Sarah, everyone who participated, and all those who helped make this special event possible.

🎱 We look forward to Rack ’em for Rebecca becoming a tradition for many years to come!

Thank you for helping turn love and remembrance into hope. 💙

💙⚽ SEPTEMBER is month so let's kick it off with BIG NEWS!!!The Annapolis Blues are proud to announce Aortic Hope as th...
09/01/2026

💙⚽ SEPTEMBER is month so let's kick it off with BIG NEWS!!!

The Annapolis Blues are proud to announce Aortic Hope as their September Charity of the Month! 🎉

The Annapolis Blues are Annapolis’ semi-professional soccer club, bringing high-level soccer, community pride, and an incredible hometown fan experience to the area.💙⚽

And this September, they’re helping put the spotlight on aortic disease!
🎟️ For every Full-Tide Season Membership purchased during September, $10 will be donated to Aortic Hope!

That means you can support the Blues, be part of the excitement, and help make a difference in the aortic disease community—all at the same time!

Now THAT is a team effort! 🙌

👉 Grab your Full-Tide Season Membership at annapolisblues.com
September is Aortic Disease Awareness Month. Let’s spread awareness. Let’s spread hope. Let’s make some noise and UP the BLUES! ❤️💙

09/01/2026

🎉❤️ AORTIC DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH STARTS TODAY❤️🎉

September is going to be BIG! We’re filling the month with education, connection, Q&As, survivor stories, contests, giveaways—and HOPE!

And this year, we’re putting front and center:

❤️ Awareness Saves Aortas. Period.

Help us turn Facebook RED! Starting September 1 (or start now!), use our profile frame to spread awareness. Want a frame added to your own photo? Email it to [email protected] and we’ll get you set up!

Throughout September, Aortic Hope will bring you:

🔴 Q&As with clinicians & survivors
🔴 Aneurysms, dissections & aortic valve disease
🔴 ACE Your Healthcare Journey + our PSP—Patient Surgical Plan
🔴 Emotional well-being & life with aortic disease
🔴 Connective tissue disorders
🔴 BINGO, contests & giveaways!
🔴 “This Is What Hope Looks Like” featuring YOU—premiering September 19!

❤️ And so much more!

Let’s raise awareness, start conversations, recognize the warning signs, empower patients, and connect families.

Because when it comes to Aortic Disease, awareness can save a life.

❤️ — Awareness Saves Aortas. Period. ❤️

Let’s make September matter. Let’s make awareness LOUD. And let’s make hope impossible to miss.

09/01/2026

9/1
Please give a special Happy Aortaversary to the following people below.
If you would like to be acknowledged, please go to our Facebook album titled Aortaversary Club and under the appropriate photo (please choose one), put your name, date and year of your surgery or diagnosis.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1019667614871512&type=3

Address

P. O. Box 17
Abingdon, MD
21009

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Aortic Hope posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category