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Erica and Richard were a match made in heaven, absolutely perfect for each other. They were married in 2009 and have two beautiful children; River, age 4 and Addyson, age 6.
Richard was in good health until 2012 when he suffered an Aortic Dissection. He underwent an aortic surgery at that time and had a mechanical aortic valve placed. He recovered well and although they didnt know why this happened, they were grateful he was on the mend. Years later, it was discovered that Richard had a connective tissue disorder known as Loey-Dietz. Loey-Dietz syndrome is characterized by enlargement of the aorta, which is the large blood vessel that distributes blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta can weaken and stretch, causing a bulge in the blood vessel wall (an aneurysm). Stretching of the aorta may also lead to a sudden tearing of the layers in the aorta wall (aortic dissection). People with Loeys-Dietz syndrome can also have aneurysms or dissections in arteries throughout the body and have arteries with abnormal twists and turns (arterial tortuosity). [https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/loeys-dietz-syndrome].
Erica and Richard's two children have also been diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz and have aortic aneurysms. They will require lifelong medications and scans to monitor their aorta closely.
On Richard's most recent CT scan earlier this summer, it was discovered that he had a very large descending aortic aneurysm and the orginial area on the aorta that was repaired, showed new areas that needed to be re-repaired. This surgery had to be performed in order to prevent another aortic dissection. This would be a major surgery, but required for survival. The surgery was set about a month after the scan. Richard had the surgery performed at Duke Hospital on Tuesday, August 20th. His surgery went as planned and post-op he went to the ICU. He was only there for a short time before he began to bleed. They immediately took him back to the OR to control the bleed. They let him rest overnight on the ventilator and decided to decrease his sedation medications the next day. Richard was not waking up as we would have all hoped. A CT scan was performed and it was revealed that Richard had suffered two massive strokes. Devastating news. The next day consisted of more CT scans, an MRI, and hourly neurological checks. Richard would open his eyes when his name was called, breathe over the ventilator and sometimes grimace to pain, and we were hopeful that things would continue to improve.
Unfortunately, this would not be the case. On Thurday evening, things took a turn for the worst. Richard began to bleed again and his vitals signs plummeted. The Cardiothoracic Surgeon opened him back up at bedside, but he had lost too much blood and could not be saved. CPR was attempted, but unsuccessful. The world lost a great man on August 22nd. Erica and their childrens' lives have changed forever. She has lost her soulmate and as expected, is grieving. Please feel free to send her messages on here for her to read when she is ready. Financially things are going to be rough and if you would like to contribute a monetary gift, please do so here.
Many people have asked what they can do to help Erica and this is one way we know will help. Richard will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, love he had for fishing and for being such a wonderful husband to Erica. He will live on through his two beautiful children.
Richard was in good health until 2012 when he suffered an Aortic Dissection. He underwent an aortic surgery at that time and had a mechanical aortic valve placed. He recovered well and although they didnt know why this happened, they were grateful he was on the mend. Years later, it was discovered that Richard had a connective tissue disorder known as Loey-Dietz. Loey-Dietz syndrome is characterized by enlargement of the aorta, which is the large blood vessel that distributes blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta can weaken and stretch, causing a bulge in the blood vessel wall (an aneurysm). Stretching of the aorta may also lead to a sudden tearing of the layers in the aorta wall (aortic dissection). People with Loeys-Dietz syndrome can also have aneurysms or dissections in arteries throughout the body and have arteries with abnormal twists and turns (arterial tortuosity). [https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/loeys-dietz-syndrome].
Erica and Richard's two children have also been diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz and have aortic aneurysms. They will require lifelong medications and scans to monitor their aorta closely.
On Richard's most recent CT scan earlier this summer, it was discovered that he had a very large descending aortic aneurysm and the orginial area on the aorta that was repaired, showed new areas that needed to be re-repaired. This surgery had to be performed in order to prevent another aortic dissection. This would be a major surgery, but required for survival. The surgery was set about a month after the scan. Richard had the surgery performed at Duke Hospital on Tuesday, August 20th. His surgery went as planned and post-op he went to the ICU. He was only there for a short time before he began to bleed. They immediately took him back to the OR to control the bleed. They let him rest overnight on the ventilator and decided to decrease his sedation medications the next day. Richard was not waking up as we would have all hoped. A CT scan was performed and it was revealed that Richard had suffered two massive strokes. Devastating news. The next day consisted of more CT scans, an MRI, and hourly neurological checks. Richard would open his eyes when his name was called, breathe over the ventilator and sometimes grimace to pain, and we were hopeful that things would continue to improve.
Unfortunately, this would not be the case. On Thurday evening, things took a turn for the worst. Richard began to bleed again and his vitals signs plummeted. The Cardiothoracic Surgeon opened him back up at bedside, but he had lost too much blood and could not be saved. CPR was attempted, but unsuccessful. The world lost a great man on August 22nd. Erica and their childrens' lives have changed forever. She has lost her soulmate and as expected, is grieving. Please feel free to send her messages on here for her to read when she is ready. Financially things are going to be rough and if you would like to contribute a monetary gift, please do so here.
Many people have asked what they can do to help Erica and this is one way we know will help. Richard will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, love he had for fishing and for being such a wonderful husband to Erica. He will live on through his two beautiful children.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristy Bowman Lovingood
Organizer
Suffolk, VA
Erica Mitchell
Beneficiary