As we gather with loved ones and celebrate this festive season, we take a moment to reflect. For many affected by aortic dissection, this season is deeply emotional. It is a time of love and memory. It is also a time to look ahead with quiet strength.
This year, we lost many people to aortic dissection. Behind each name is a family, a story, a life full of meaning. Their absence is deeply felt, they are missed at the table, they are missed in conversations.
We stand with all who are grieving. At Christmas, the loss can feel sharper. You are not alone, your loved one is not forgotten.
Focused on Change
Throughout this year, and especially in recent weeks, we have heard from many of you. Families have shared tributes. Survivors have spoken openly about their recovery while supporters have reached out to share ideas on how they plan to support our mission in the year ahead.
We are always here for those who wish to remember or make a contribution. If you would like to support our work in 2026, there are many meaningful ways to get involved. You might consider fundraising in memory of a loved one, raising awareness in your local community, sharing your story, or taking part in one of our events. Every action, however small it may seem, plays a vital role in helping us improve outcomes, support families and save lives.
Hope for the Future
During this year, we have made real progress. Awareness of aortic dissection is growing. More people are recognising the symptoms and more healthcare professionals are asking the right questions. More lives are being saved.
There have also been steps forward in research and clinical education. Improvements in diagnosis and emergency response are making a difference. These are the result of your voices and your advocacy. They represent lives changed and futures protected.
Feedback shows that our training is making a difference almost immediately. With clinicians applying their learning in real cases soon after attending our education sessions.
“A patient in A&E was being investigated for a heart attack. Because this study day was so fresh in my mind, I recognised the signs and suggested aortic dissection. I felt more confident and pushed for the scan which confirmed the diagnosis. I would recommend this training to all my colleagues.”
Sarah, A&E Cardiology Clinical Nurse Specialist
We know the journey is far from over, but the direction is encouraging. Together, we are making a lasting impact.
While much attention is rightly given to lives lost, we also recognise those who survive aortic dissection. Survival does not always mean returning to life as it was. Many face a new reality of physical limitations, emotional challenges and an ongoing sense of uncertainty.
Life after dissection often brings a shift in perspective. There may be gratitude, but also grief for the life that once was. Everyday routines can take more energy and relationships are affected. Hopes for the future may need to be reshaped, yet through it all, survivors show immense courage and adaptability.
We honour the strength it takes to live with this condition, not just to survive but to rebuild. You are a vital part of this community and your experiences continue to guide how we support others.
Understanding and Support
Christmas can bring mixed emotions. For some, it may be a time of warmth and closeness. For others, it may highlight loss, uncertainty or change. Grief and healing do not follow a calendar, and neither do the needs that come with them.
At the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust, we continue to provide support for those affected. Whether you are newly bereaved, living with the condition or caring for someone who is, our resources and support services are here for you. You are not alone and you do not need to face this journey without guidance or understanding. We are committed to growing a community grounded in compassion and care.
Together, we remember. Together, we continue.
