The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health is dedicated to raising awareness of Thoracic Aortic Dissection through education, research, and advocacy.
Today we celebrate the birthday of John Ritter, who lost his life in 2003 due to a misdiagnosed thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). The John Ritter Foundation was created in his honor, with the goal of sparing others unnecessary suffering due to lack of awareness of this disease.
20 years ago, John left a legacy filled with love and laughter. After his untimely death, we started building a new legacy in his honor - one focused on aortic health. As time goes by, the work of the JRF brings us closer to a world without aortic dissection.
#AortaEd
#JohnRitter
This year, it’s been 20 years since we lost him. So we’re trying to raise $20K for the 20 years and you can help by donating to the
@JohnRitterFdn
There are also little rewards for any donation over $20, and more for more! But any amount at all helps!
Learn more about aortic dissection on our website and talk with a doctor if you have a family member with this condition. John's brother is alive today because he had surgical repair of his aorta before a dissection occurred.
#AortaEd
#CardioEd
#GeneChat
Calling all Three's Company fans! This is your chance to own an original Three's Company script with John Ritter's notes from the infamous Season 5 episode: 'Double Trouble' where Jack poses as his own twin to fool Mr. Furley!
Thank you, friend, for all the Love and Laughs you’ve shared with me since…. forever. And thank you for the love and support you have always shown our John Ritter Foundation community.
#GilbertGottfried
It’s been 20 years since we started The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health. We are proud of all that we’ve accomplished and are excited for all the work we still have left to do. Here’s to another 20 years 💜
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaEd
To raise awareness of Thoracic Aortic Disease, we’re asking you to take the Purple Pinky Promise – a promise to ask your doctor about your aortic health and the aortic health of your loved ones. Find out the signs, symptoms and scans you need to assess your risk.
Join us for our 24-hour fundraising stream on Twitch! Starting Friday afternoon 9/23 and ending Saturday afternoon 9/24.Help us reach our goal and raise awareness of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection.
@JasonRitter
More information here:
The John Ritter Foundation was heartbroken to hear of Grant Wahl's death.
John Ritter also had an undetected thoracic aortic aneurysm that led to his death from an acute aortic dissection. We have an official statement on our website:
We're taking the Purple Pinky Promise to show our dedication to aortic health. Here’s how you can join us:
- Paint your pinky fingernail with purple polish.
- Snap a pic and share with the hashtag
#PurplePinkyPromise
.
- Tag three friends and ask them to do it with you!
Genetic Aortic Disorders Association Canada and the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health are thrilled to partner together to host a free virtual event for the
#ACTA2
community. If you care for patients with this condition please share!
#genechat
#aortaed
Contributions to JRF support grants for research, family support programs like our Aorta Advocates, educational forums and webinars, publications, fundraising activities, and administrative expenses to keep the organization moving forward.
As we get closer to Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, we want to share some of the faces and words of those who have been directly affected by aortic dissection. We start with JRF CEO Meredith O'Neal, who had a dissection when she was 37 1/2 weeks pregnant.
#AortaSupporta
Very important. Many nonsyndromic patients face hurdles to diagnosis because they lack outward features. Also need to image family even if genetic testing is "negative." John's brother had lifesaving surgery to repair a thoracic aortic aneurysm thanks to family screening.
Have you taken the Purple Pinky Promise yet? Become an
#AortaSupporta
by promising to ask your doctor about your aortic health and assess your risk. Don't forget to ask three friends to do the same!
#PurplePinkyPromise
Save the date. Save a loved one. Join us during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week for educational events, research updates and an online auction to raise funds for much-needed awareness and research of the disease that took the life of John Ritter.
Become an
#aortasupporta
today!
Aortic Dissection Awareness Week auction items are now live! All proceeds will go towards The JRF’s life-saving mission to spread awareness about aortic health. View all auction items and start your bidding!
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaSupporta
Check out today's auction item! A Frasier Series Finale Script signed by Peri Gilpin, Kelsey Grammar, John Mahoney, Jane Leeves, and David Hyde Pierce. All proceeds will go towards The JRF’s life-saving mission to spread awareness about aortic health.
Check out this awesome auction item! A 40” x 27” signed by cast Yellowjackets poster. Proceeds will go towards The John Ritter Foundation’s life-saving mission to spread awareness about aortic health. Start your bidding!
If we can identify who is at risk for aortic dissection, we can prevent premature deaths.
@DiannaMilewicz
is working to find an answer for all families affected by aortic disease and The JRF is proud to fund her work at The John Ritter Research Program.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for making Aortic Dissection Awareness Week a success. Through events, pinky promises and an auction we've brought life-saving awareness, helped raise funds for more research and honored the memory of John Ritter.
#AortaSupporta
📣Now available! Our *free* mental health resource book for aortic patients and caregivers!
👉
Our partners at
@ADCollab
identified mental health as a priority of aortic patients and we were proud to fund a grant last year focused on this need.
#AortaEd
Excited for this partnership and working together to advance our shared goal of raising awareness and
utilization of genomic testing in cardiovascular disease!
#AortaEd
Join us in welcoming the
@JohnRitterFdn
as CGTA's newest partner.
The foundation — named for the beloved actor who died at age 54 of a misdiagnosed thoracic aortic dissection — is dedicated to raising awareness through research, education, and advocacy.
Do you collect celebrity autographs? Enjoy cooking your favorite meal? Love snuggling up with a great new book? Then get to our JRF auction now and start bidding on these awesome items!
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaSupporta
@ziplamak
We are so sorry for your loss. John Ritter sadly died of the same condition. I am sure you getting lots of advice, but please contact us (info
@johnritterfoundation
.org) if you need help navigating the medical recommendations. Many Drs, even cardiologists are not aortic experts.
We want to thank everyone who came out to support JRF at An Evening From The Heart earlier this month. We’re thrilled to have raised more than $400,000 from this year’s event, and we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without all our aorta supporters.
#RitterRules
#AortaSupporta
For 20 years The JRF has worked to spread awareness of aortic health. Watch our video to learn more about the latest research developments and how you can help spread awareness of aortic dissection and save lives.
Dr. Frank has done so much for the
@JohnRitterFdn
! Running the NYC marathon for Team Ritter for almost a decade and raising $100K+ to help our work to prevent deaths due to aortic dissection. Thank you
@farkomd
!!!
This summer, we’re releasing a patient and family resource booklet filled with information from our recently funded research project on aortic disease and mental health.
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
#aortaed
It is important for patients with Loeys-Dietz to understand their genetic diagnosis - management and recommendations can vary based on gene and even mutation/variant.
#RareDiseaseDay2023
#AortaEd
#GeneChat
JRF is excited to announce our 2023 Team Ritter runners. Team Ritter will run the TCS New York City Marathon to raise much needed funds for the JRF’s crucial mission of raising awareness of thoracic aortic disease. Please consider supporting a runner!
@Phil_Lewis_
@RockFromThHeart
Let's be careful when saying somebody "died of an aneurysm." He died because the aneurysm dissected/ruptured. Having an aneurysm is not a death sentence, and if you know you have one, dissection can largely be prevented.
#aortaed
#aorticdissection
Our Silent Auction has begun! Check out our amazing items, like virtual meet and greets with Sarah Silverman or Bob Sagat, a signed Brett Favre jersey, a Three's Company script, and lunch with Henry Winkler!
You can place your bid here:
Meet Michael, one of our Aorta Advocates. Having someone to talk to while on your aorta journey is important, knowing that you are not alone and there are people here to support you is a part of the healing process.
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaSupporta
#AortaAdvocate
Over the past 22 years, nine genes have been confirmed to lead to aortic disease. More than half of these genes were identified by our own Dr. Dianna Milewicz, medical trailblazer and history maker.
#aortaed
#womenshistorymonth
#aortasupporta
#johnritter
💜💜💜 Introducing the JRF SHOP, our branded online merchandise store. All profits support our critical mission. WEAR YOUR AORTA ON YOUR SLEEVE and help spread aortic health awareness!
#ShopWithPurpose
#AortaSupporta
#JohnRitterFoundation
Meet Desiree one of our Aorta Advocates who can help you navigate your aortic health journey. She understands how impactful it can be to connect with someone who has walked a similar path.
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaEd
#AortaSupporta
💜TEAM RITTER 2020 SHIRTS ARE AVAILABLE!💜
The 2020 New York marathon is canceled but TEAM RITTER is still raising funds for The John Ritter Foundation! Get your shirt here:
Calling all Three's Company fans! This is your chance to own an original Three's Company script with John Ritter's signature. The script is from Season 4-Episode 2 "Love Thy Neighbor". View all ADAW auction items and start your bidding!
What’s an Aorta Advocate? It’s someone who’s been impacted by aortic disease themselves, who you can count on for support in your aortic journey. Reach out to connect with one today.
#JohnRitterFoundation
#AortaAdvocate
#AortaEd
Going through a major medical crisis can be daunting. For aortic patients, the struggle is real and can affect recovery. A JRF funded patient and family resource booklet, packed with evidence-based info on aortic disease and mental health, will be released this summer.
#aortaed
Thank you! We so value the physicians, nurses, genetic counselors, and other providers who are committed to caring about and caring for aortic disease patients!
Check out today’s featured auction items – NKOTB VIP experiences in OK and CA; Chelsea Handler show tickets; and Lionel Richie in concert at the Forum. View all auction items and start your bidding!
Bridget lost her 13-year old son Connor to aortic dissection. She now fights for more comprehensive pediatric screening so no one else experiences the same loss.
Become an
#AortaSupporta
and join us 9/19 - 9/26 for Aortic Dissection Awareness Week
Looking forward to the Gordon Research Conference on July 23-28, led by
@DiannaMilewicz
. This conference is focused on advancing the frontiers of elastin biology, with a focus on disease of a major elastin containing organ, the aorta.
@OuzounianMD
@ShereneShalhub
@scottlemaire
Get ready for Aortic Dissection Awareness Week by making the Purple Pinky Promise to learn about your family’s aortic history. Share a pic of your pinky fingernail painted purple, with a ribbon tied around it, or simply wear purple.
#PurplePinkyPromise
#JohnRitterFoundation
The Aortic Dissection (AD)
Collaborative includes patients, their families, and
medical professionals. Understanding what matters
most to patients helps guide research and better
informs the treatment decision-making process. More
info here:
#aortaed
The JRF is excited and honored to once again be asked to participate in the Care of Aortic Disease Symposium sponsored by
@CleClinicHVTI
. Join us and other
#AortaEd
experts as we work to improve the management of patients with aortic disease!
In honor of
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
, we held our first Aortic Health Patient Symposium in collaboration with the
@JohnRitterFdn
! Cedars-Sinai experts shared important information and research about aortic health with patients and staff! ❤️
Please join us! This invitation is open to patients and partners of patients with genetic aortic diseases (such as Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, ACTA2, etc.), as well as those who care for them.
#AortaEd
#GeneChat
#CardioTwitter
Nancy's daughter Olivia passed away at 23 months from complications of an ultra rare disease that impacts the aorta. At the time, the medical community lacked crucial knowledge about the disease. Since then, she's made it her mission to change that.
Fan of Jim Henson’s Muppets? Then check out this auction item. A one-of-a-kind "Rainbow Connection" hand painted guitar and case by Jim Henson's cartoonist, Guy Gilchrist. Start your bidding and support JRF!
Special thanks to
@swede_irish
for raising over $5,000 for The John Ritter Foundation during his
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
Twitch fundraiser. Your support is greatly appreciated!💜
Your gifts make all our work possible. Kick off your
#GivingTuesday
by helping us reach our $20,000 fundraising goal and becoming an
#AortaAngel
. Click the link here:
Selina had chest pain and shortness of breath that doctors blamed on stress. If it weren't for one dedicated doctor, her aortic insufficiency may never have been caught. Her life is now centered around heart disease awareness and the importance of mental and physical health.
The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health is excited to announce our 2023 inaugural class of Aorta Advocates. Our dedicated team of advocates receives training to provide resources to those whose lives have been changed by aortic disease.💜
#aortaed
#aortasupporta
#johnritter
Aortic Dissection Awareness Week online auction is closing tonight. Don’t miss out on these awesome auction items, plus so much more. Get those bids in now and support the mission of The John Ritter Foundation!
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaSupporta
Calling all Jimmy Kimmel Fan’s! Today’s featured auction item is 4 VIP tickets to Jimmy Kimmel Live with swag bag. All proceeds will go towards The John Ritter Foundation’s life-saving mission to spread awareness about aortic health. Start your bidding!
@ziplamak
Marfan syndrome is the most well-known, but there are many genetic aortic conditions that can “run in families” - with or without tall stature, etc. Anyone with a close relative who had a dissection/rupture should have imaging of their aorta by echocardiogram, CTA, or MRA.
For JRF’s CEO Meredith Ford O’Neal the mission of The JRF is not only professional, it’s personal. Hear more about Meredith’s story and learn how you can make a difference in aortic health awareness.
#AorticDissectionAwarenessWeek
#AortaSupporta
#AortaEd
Families who lose someone to dissection are often unaware of the potential benefits of postmortem genetic testing. Join us for a webinar discussing the role of postmortem genetic testing in understanding aortic dissection.
#aortaed
#genechat
Thank you to our friends at Hoag Hospital in beautiful Newport Beach, California. We’re gonna need some proof that you actually hung those posters up!! If there’s no picture, it didn’t happen.
@hoaghealth
Love Vegas? Then don’t miss out on today’s featured auction item - one room for two nights in Vegas at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and four VIP tickets to see Penn & Teller live. View all auction items and start your bidding!
Ed co-founded Jonnie’s Goodguys in honor of his friend who died of Thoracic Aortic Disease. We wholeheartedly support his efforts educating others and sponsoring early detection heart scans.
Become an
#AortaSupporta
and join us 9/19 - 9/26 for Aortic Dissection Awareness Week.
Hi
#genechat
and
#aortaed
! Do you know of patients with ACTA2 - related aortic disease? The John Ritter Foundation is hosting a round table discussion next week for the patient community. Registration is required:
Tuesday, Jan 24th, 7 PM EST (UTC-5)
So much information and innovation shared in that room, Ali! Always an inspiring meeting. Loved talking to the docs and researchers one on one. A hell of a lot of Aorta Thinking going on in that room!
#ThinkAorta
#ThinkAortaUS
Currently, there are no drugs that can prevent an aortic dissection, and the need for effective prevention is urgent.
@Dr_ZhenZhou
is working tirelessly to change this. His research holds the promise of identifying a drug to halt progression of this life-threatening condition.
Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection knows no race, age, or gender. It is an international disease. Please post your
#purplepinkypromise
pictures in the comments and where you are from. Today, you will see information from some of our friends overseas. Tune in!
#aortaed
#aortasupporta
Today marks the beginning of Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2022. To kick off the week, please share this tweet. Don't forget to make the
#purplepinkypromise
and check out tthe schedule of events for this week!
#aortaed
#johnritter
#aortasupporta