Dallas Resident Raises Awareness of Genetic Heart Disease After Diagnosis

DALLAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) A near-tragedy for a Dallas family turned into a mission to raise awareness of aortic dissection.

It’s a genetic but preventable disease that Rob Strauss didn’t know about until it almost killed him two years ago.

“It was shocking. I mean, there were no such problems in my family,” he said.

“We went from normal to emergency open heart surgery in a very short amount of time,” said Whitney Strauss, his wife.

Often misdiagnosed as a heart attack, aortic dissection occurs when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s main artery. Every second patient will never make it to the hospital. While Rob was recovering, he and his wife armed themselves with knowledge.

“I never want another family to go through what we went through,” she said.

They learned that both of their sons had the same genetic disorder, and that it also claimed the life of actor John Ritter almost 20 years ago. They partnered with the John Ritter Aortic Health Foundation, founded by Ritter’s widow, Amy Yasbeck, and scheduled the Bowl-A-Thon this past weekend.

“We are all trying to make him proud. And if I want to save my family and figure out our genetic code, I will certainly do it for the rest of the world,” said Yasbek, who is the founder of the Foundation.

All tickets for the Bowl-A-Thon were sold out and doubled in number. The Strauss plan to make the event an annual tradition. But they said they hope it brings in more than money.

They said knowledge is key – knowing your family history and getting a heart screening. This is a matter that is now literally close to their hearts.

“It just grows exponentially, as does information,” Yasbeck said. “So all these people are now blessed with information.”

For more information on the John Ritter Aortic Health Foundation, including Ritter’s Rules on how to recognize, treat, and prevent thoracic aortic dissection, click here.