Join us for a GADA get-together to meet up with others in the community who have concerns about aortic dissection surgery from both the patient and caregiver perspective.
Our virtual meetups are relaxed spaces for community members to get to know each other and share resources.
Discussion will be facilitated by Lisa Iliadis, a board member with the Genetic Aortic Disorders Association Canada (GADA Canada). Lisa will discuss her personal experience as an aortic dissection survivor and caregiver of a teenager who recently underwent aortic repair surgery. She will share insights regarding both the planned surgery experience at Sick Kids, and the emergency surgery experience.
Registration is free and required to join.
SPEAKER BIO: Lisa Iliadis represents the ACTA2 community as a board member with the Genetic Aortic Disorders Association of Canada (GADA Canada). Lisa is an Occupational Therapist who works in neuro-rehabilitation and also practices psychotherapy. In 2010 Lisa suffered a near-fatal aortic dissection five days post-partum. An Occupational Therapist and expert in the field of neuro-rehabilitation, Lisa found herself on the other side of the rehabilitation journey. Lisa’s father had died of a dissection at the age of 46 which provoked her to have genetic testing done following her dissection; she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition. Brand new to the medical landscape, she was told that ACTA2 was responsible for her weakened arteries and placed her at risk for a repeat vascular event. As suspected, she had inherited the genetic risk from her father, and her sister and daughter were also found to be carriers. Together, Lisa and her sister, Stephanie, started the world’s first online support group for ACTA2 patients and their families.