AORTAS OF UNUSUAL SIZE
AOUSs...do you think they exist?
Sadly, yes, and many people only find them incidentally, like Steven did, during after a CT scan for something else. He's actually one of the lucky ones, because finding his 3 aneurysms means he has a excellent odds against this disease. If our sharing health stuff is TMI to you, feel free to skip this page. If you know us, you know we started this business because we wanted to be with people, face to face and we're pretty real and transparent. We have deep conversations about heroes, indie comics, and actual gut-wrenching life things the people we serve are going through. We're here to do life with you and we feel that includes sharing our journey - and how at some point, it might affect how and when you receive your comics once Steven needs surgery. We definitely feel like we're navigating a Fire Swamp.
My best friend, Steven, got diagnosed with 3 aortic aneurysms in early 2025. We'd never even heard of the figurative time bomb/chest grenade called aortic aneurysm. We didn't know that A.O.U.S.s exist. Right now we are "watchfully waiting" open heart surgery repair.
I have become a reluctant student and watched hours of YouTube medical videos, to include some open-heart surgical repairs. Needless to say, Steven and are night and day different and handle all of this stuff very differently from each other. I want to know everything, and he is content being on a "need to know" status. I've had to work past the daily rollercoaster of fears of his aorta dissecting, leaking, or going boom.
As individuals and as a couple (parents of 20 something quadruplets), we have been through many adventures, some fiery and treacherous, some soul crushing and heartbreaking, with splashes of laughter and joy along the way. Whatever the case, whatever you may be facing, we wish you wellness and peace in the areas you are doing some watchful waiting. It's such a simple term used frequently when discussing aneurysms of any type. Right now, there are countless patients around the world and all the people who love them, waiting, watching. You're not alone and we wish you godspeed.
(More info can be found at the John Ritter Foundation.)
