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Bicuspid Aortic Foundation
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For families and medical professionals,
      by families and medical professionals
  Creating a climate of  hope
 
 
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Creating a climate of hope, an atmosphere of caring, and a source of information for all who are touched by thoracic aortic disease and the medical professionals who care for them.
 
 
In Loving Memory
of
Carrie Godbey

who lost her life to
aortic dissection
on
June 26, 2006

Beloved Wife of Lawrence,
Mother of Sydney and Logan
Carrie Godbey made Christmas a very special time for many people, especially the children in her classroom. It is very fitting that the Bicuspid Aortic Foundation share her story this holiday season. She is pictured above with her husband, Lawrence. December 2005 was a time of special joy, as they learned that they were expecting twins.  It was also their last Christmas together. 
December 2007

Carrie Godbey was just a young girl when she received the diagnosis of Turner Syndrome. Carrie also had a bicuspid aortic valve. She met her husband, Lawrence, while they were both in college, and they were married in May of 2000.  When I spoke with Lawrence, he described the joys of their life together and their desire for children. Invitro-fertilization gave them hope that this would be possible. In December 2005  they learned that Carrie was pregnant with twins.

Lawrence told me that Carrie faithfully kept her cardiac appointments and that there were no indications of problems to alarm them. Even when chest pain sent her to the hospital, at first there was only a small tear in the descending aorta. This type of dissection is generally treated medically, with careful control of blood pressure. The twins were safely delivered, and it continued to seem hopeful that Carrie's aorta would stabilize. However, her aorta did not continue to hold, and within a few hours Carrie suffered a fatal tearing of her aorta. She died without ever holding her babies, Sydney and Logan.

Along with many other complexities, Turner Syndrome may be associated with bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta, and aortic aneurysm or dissection. In reviewing the literature, there are many unanswered questions found there. Among recently published papers, this reference  describes the difficulty of determining those most at risk for aortic dissection: Dissection of the aorta in Turner syndrome: two cases and review of 85 cases in the literature 
Lawrence with newborns Logan and Sydney 
"I feel so fortunate to have met Carrie if only for a brief period of time.  I met her through her husband Lawrence who happened to be a co-worker with me.  You could tell that they were both head over heels in love with each other and were best friends and soul-mates. " - From a co-worker of Lawrence Godbey
A "Perfect Storm" ?

In October 2006, Clinical and epidemiological description of aortic dissection in Turner's syndrome was published by a group of physicians in Holland. A commentary on that work was written - the text is not freely available, but the title is striking - Aortic dissection in Turner's syndrome: a "perfect storm"?

 The abnormal aorta can be unpredictable, and as described in the medical literature, that is certainly the case in Turner Syndrome. How much do the presence of a bicuspid aortic valve and its associated aortic abnormalities add to the already complex issues of Turner Syndrome?  There are many questions needing answers. 

Carrie Godbey gave a great deal to everyone she met. Today her experience, shared through her family and friends, continues to give to all who read it, providing insight into  Turner Syndrome accompanied by the complexities of BAVD.

May her memory comfort all those who knew and love her,
and her experience compel medical science to press forward,
seeking answers that remain elusive today.
                                                                                            
                                                                            Arlys Velebir
                                                                                                    Bicuspid Aortic Foundation
                                                                    
Turner Syndrome Resources