Voice of Survival: A Radio Broadcaster’s Journey Through a Rare Heart Condition

In 2016, John Carney’s life changed in an instant. The longtime St. Louis radio personality was driving when he experienced a severe and painful cramp and asked his wife, Suzanne, if she could drive. They pulled over, and he stepped out of the car, covered in sweat, struggling to breathe, and had chest pain. He was rushed to the nearest hospital. 

Tests revealed an acute descending aortic dissection, a tear in the wall of the body's main artery, disrupting blood flow to his intestines and body. Because John's condition was complex and emergent, he was flown to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where a team of nationally recognized WashU Medicine heart and vascular specialists provide advanced surgical and interventional expertise.  

This multidisciplinary team specializes in every aspect of aortic disease—from early diagnosis and emergency repair to lifelong imaging, monitoring, and prevention. Each year, the team cares for a large number of patients who require complex aortic procedures, giving them extensive experience and unmatched expertise.

"The aortic dissection was life-threatening," says Alan Braverman, MD, a WashU Medicine cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. "John's organs weren't getting enough blood. He needed immediate advanced care."  

The team performed an emergency endovascular repair, a minimally invasive procedure in which a tube called a catheter was inserted into John's blood vessels to place stents to reinforce the damaged area and restore blood flow, saving his life.  

A hidden genetic condition

Dr. Braverman had been caring for John at the WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Heart & Vascular Center for years prior to his life-threatening aortic dissection and knew he had a mildly enlarged aorta, something he was watching closely, especially with John’s family history of sudden cardiac death. His father, Jack Carney, also a well-known broadcaster, died of a heart attack in his 50s.  

“I remember Dr. Braverman telling me that we need to find out why this happened to me because it was unusual to have a sudden life-threatening aortic dissection with no warning signs,” John says.

After John's dissection, Dr. Braverman put together the puzzle pieces that gave him a clearer picture of his condition.

Because John had early onset arthritis and a bifid uvula—a split in the small piece of flesh that dangles in the back of the throat—Dr. Braverman recognized these as indicators of a rare genetic condition called Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS). “Genetic testing confirmed John has the disease,” Dr. Braverman says.  

Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a heritable connective tissue disorder and in John's case was caused by a mutation in the SMAD3 gene. Recognized as a distinct syndrome only within the past 20 years, the condition weakens the walls of the aorta and other arteries, increasing the risk of aneurysm, dissection, and rupture. It can also affect the skeleton, skin, and other organs.  

Given what happened to John, Dr. Braverman suspected his father may have had the same underlying condition and that it went undiagnosed.  

A complex journey through multiple surgeries

Once diagnosed, John’s care team developed a long-term plan to manage his condition and prevent future aortic conditions. Since 2016, John has undergone multiple complex aortic and cardiac surgeries, performed by WashU Medicine experts at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, including vascular surgeons J. Westley Ohman, MD, and Luis Sanchez, MD, and cardiothoracic surgeon Puja Kachroo, MD.

His treatments began with replacing the sections of his aorta closest to the heart, along with a procedure called the elephant trunk, which creates a safe pathway for future repairs in the descending aorta.  

Over the next few years, John had several minimally invasive endovascular procedures and additional surgeries to repair and strengthen weakened sections of his aorta.  

"John is a testament to the importance of the team at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Heart & Vascular Center,” says Dr. Ohman. "He has undergone nearly every complex open and minimally invasive procedure available to treat his aortic disease as safely as possible, and the coordination between cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and vascular surgery was seamless throughout."

Most recently, in 2024, he had another major surgery to replace a leaking valve and repair an aneurysm that had developed near one of his previous procedures. His condition was life-threatening because the very large aneurysm was at risk of rupture, but WashU Medicine physicians were able to repair the aneurysm—ultimately saving his life.  

“These surgeries were incredibly complex, life-saving procedures,” says Dr. Braverman. “John’s case required extraordinary collaboration among cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, medical genetics, and radiology—highlighting the depth of expertise of WashU Medicine specialists at Barnes-Jewish.”

“I trusted my care team completely,” John says. “Each time I went into surgery, I knew I was in the best hands possible. That trust, and my wife’s support, made all the difference.”  

A team effort and a family’s strength

Throughout his medical journey, John’s wife, Suzanne, has been by his side. Around the time John’s health issues started, Suzanne enrolled in nursing school at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing. Graduating with honors, she became John's biggest advocate and joined the vascular surgery team at the Heart & Vascular Center as a nurse.

“She was so engaged,” Dr. Braverman says. “Suzanne wanted to understand every decision, every risk, every step forward. Her support and trust in the team were essential to his recovery.”  

“I wanted to make sure John got the best care possible,” Suzanne says. “I learned so much at Goldfarb, and I could use that knowledge to ask the questions and help him through this. We faced a lot of scary moments, but we did it together.”

"The first time I met Suzanne was in the ICU as I explained my role and our team's plan for the next steps in treating John’s aortic disease,” says Dr. Ohman. “John has a larger-than-life personality that fills a room, and Suzanne's advocacy and commitment to understanding every step more than matched this. We’re incredibly fortunate that she has joined the vascular surgery team to continue this work for more of our patients.”

As John began his recovery in the hospital, Suzanne is thankful for the compassion and encouragement they received from his care team.  

“I’ll never forget John walking down the hallway with his physical therapist in the cardiothoracic ICU and every single team member cheering him on,” Suzanne says. “It was a joyful moment. The care at Barnes-Jewish was exceptional, from the doctors and nurses to concierge and dietary, everyone was so kind. We always felt supported.”

“John's journey reflects the importance of close follow-up, timely interventions, and a tightly aligned cardiovascular team to monitor and address all the issues that often occur to patients with complex aortic disease and hereditary cardiovascular problems,” Dr. Sanchez says. “The outstanding team of cardiovascular physicians at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish reflects their commitment to this clinically challenging patient population and their optimal long-term management."

Uncovering a hidden risk

Dr. Braverman says John’s story shows the importance of recognizing heritable aortic diseases like Loeys-Dietz syndrome early, especially in families with unexplained sudden cardiac deaths.  

“John’s diagnosis was hidden in plain sight,” Dr. Braverman said. WashU Medicine's deep expertise in identifying and treating rare aortic conditions means that John's family members who might be at risk for the same condition benefitted from testing and early surveillance. He calls it the “Saving Private Ryan” approach, finding those relatives at risk and intervening early to protect their health.

“Aortic dissection is often fatal if untreated,” Dr. Braverman says. “But with awareness, early diagnosis, and expert surgical care, we can save lives and help patients live long, full meaningful ones, just like John.”

Back to life and on the air

John Carney is back behind the microphone, sharing stories, laughter, and his signature wit with St. Louis listeners. Thanks to the coordinated expertise of WashU Medicine physicians at Barnes-Jewish, the risk of another life-threatening aortic event has been dramatically reduced.  

“John is an incredible example of resilience and optimism,” said Dr. Braverman. “His story reminds us that with the right diagnosis, the right team, and the right plan, even the most complex cases can have remarkable outcomes.”  

Learn more about the advanced care and expertise in aortic disease at the WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Heart & Vascular Center.