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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, to drive. When he stopped the car, he was covered in sweat, struggling to breathe, and had chest pain.

After being rushed to the nearest hospital, tests revealed an acute descending aortic dissection, a tear in the wall of the body’s main artery that disrupts blood flow. Due to the severity of his condition, John was transferred by helicopter to Barnes-Jewish Hospital to be treated by WashU Medicine’s nationally recognized heart and vascular specialists, including John’s cardiologist, Alan Braverman, MD. Performing an emergency endovascular repair saved his life.

“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.

A Hidden Genetic Condition

Dr. Braveman had been caring for John for years prior to his life-threatening aortic dissection at the WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Heart and Vascular Center. He was already closely monitoring John’s mildly enlarged aorta because John’s dad, Jack Carney, also a well-known broadcaster, died of a heart attack in his 50s.

Still, the aortic dissection itself was unusual.

Dr. Braverman went to work to solve the puzzle. He identified potential indicators for a rare condition called Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), which was confirmed through genetic testing. LDS weakens the walls of the aorta and other arteries, increasing the risk of aneurysm, dissection, and rupture. With this rare diagnosis, John’s care team was able to develop a long-term plan to manage his condition and prevent future aortic conditions.

A Complex Journey

Since that original 2016 cardiac incident, John has undergone multiple complex aortic and cardiac surgeries, including replacing sections of his aorta closest to the heart and several minimally invasive endovascular procedures.

In 2024, John underwent major surgery to replace a leaking valve and repair an aneurysm — ultimately saving his life, again.

“These surgeries were incredibly complex, life-saving procedures,” Dr. Braverman says. “John’s case required extraordinary collaboration among cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, medical genetics, and radiology.”

“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, Suzanne has been by his side. “I wanted to make sure John got the best care possible,” she says. We faced a lot of scary moments, but we did it together.”

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 is now a nurse at the Heart and Vascular Center.

Suzanne is especially thankful for the compassion and encouragement they received from his care team during his recovery.

“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.”

Back to Life and on the Air

With a lower risk of another life-threatening aortic event, John Carney is back behind the microphone, sharing stories, laughter, and his signature wit with St. Louis listeners.

“John is an incredible example of resilience and optimism,” Dr. Braverman says. “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.”

This story was adapted from a story originally published by BJC HealthCare.