I live alone in Simcoe, ON, and fortunately when my ascending aortic dissection began. My brother and nephew were over watching Sunday night football. About 10:15 pm, I felt a tight feeling in my jaw. It moved to my neck, back, and lower back immediately. My brother called 911. 

I was lucky the area doctor was familiar with Marfan syndrome, which I mentioned I had. He sent me immediately to Hamilton General by ambulance. During the ride to HGH, the doctor whose presence was requested by Dr. Bardon, was doctor at Norfolk General. Whatever he did he saved my right arm and leg, which were black and blue from the blood clots. I was most likely going to have them amputated, but he did something in the 45 minute ride to Hamilton that saved my limbs. I arrived at HGH at about 1:00 am.  

Dr. Adel Dyub arrived and examined me and spoke to me and my family. He assembled his team, and I went into the OR at approx. 4:00 am. The surgery was about 15 hours. My organs had shut down and began dying. I have been told that my organs had to be removed and I was literally put back together. My brain was frozen to 23 degrees F. for approx. 25 minutes. I have only recently learned to some extent what I had been through. 

Thank you to everyone that helped to save my life. 

– William