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Prairie Gates

(8,784 posts)
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 05:56 PM 2 hrs ago

Aortic Dissection + Niece Phone Call?

Last edited Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Lindsay Graham's cause of death is now being confirmed as an aortic dissection.

We also were told that his niece, who was in Baltimore ON EDIT: and driving to visit him, called 911 on his behalf, and made some statements about the situation, like that the door was unlocked for paramedics (it wasn't). ON EDIT: A news story said she was in the vicinity of BWI at the time she received the call.

One would have to conclude that 1) he began to feel the effects of the condition that killed him, and 2) he called his niece to either report this condition or to call 911 (rather than just calling 911), and 3) he communicated to her that he would leave the door unlocked for the paramedics.

These are currently what we're being told are the facts of the case. Feel free to state whether this makes a lot of sense.

Here's my position: an aortic dissection is a catastrophic and sudden event that does not leave you time to make phone calls. It also doesn't leave you time to unlock doors or communicate that you are unlocking a door. I also don't think Lindsay Graham regularly leaves the door to his home unlocked at night.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Aortic Dissection + Niece Phone Call? (Original Post) Prairie Gates 2 hrs ago OP
I could be wrong canetoad 2 hrs ago #1
I had the same recollection. Raven123 2 hrs ago #2
It's what killed John Ritter and yes, that's what killed her also. nt MarineCombatEngineer 2 hrs ago #3
I experienced a Spontaneous Aortic Dissection. yardwork 2 hrs ago #4
You were damned lucky! Attilatheblond 2 hrs ago #6
Yes! Mine was in a small artery. yardwork 1 hr ago #8
Ayo that's amazin' Prairie Gates 1 hr ago #10
It's what killed my husband; it is not instantious. But it doesn't take long. Attilatheblond 2 hrs ago #5
I'm very sorry for your loss. yardwork 1 hr ago #9
Reminds me of my grandma Sympthsical 1 hr ago #7
Almost exactly the same scenario Prairie Gates 1 hr ago #14
Chest pains is one of the possible symptomps. LisaL 1 hr ago #11
And by the way, he didn't manage to unlock the door. LisaL 1 hr ago #12
Already stated in the OP Prairie Gates 1 hr ago #13
He was 71, drank a lot, and was just on a long flight Peppertoo 1 hr ago #15
I 100% believe that he died of an aortic dissection Prairie Gates 56 min ago #17
Why would his niece be en route to South Carolina? He was in DC. onenote 1 hr ago #16
Thanks, my bad....correcting in the OP Prairie Gates 55 min ago #18

yardwork

(70,249 posts)
4. I experienced a Spontaneous Aortic Dissection.
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 06:17 PM
2 hrs ago

I had time to drive myself to the emergency department. (I don't recommend this.)

People experience things differently.

Attilatheblond

(9,566 posts)
5. It's what killed my husband; it is not instantious. But it doesn't take long.
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 06:21 PM
2 hrs ago

Sometimes called 'The Widowmaker'.

Bleeds out into body center, slowly depriving brain of O2 until brain shuts off the whole system. There was a bit of time between feeling something very wrong and losing consciousness then brain death. He still had a pulse when EMS arrived and they kept working en route and at the ER, but the brain was not getting the blood and O2, brain already gone and wouldn't restart heart/lungs.

A friend also died that way.

Friend died in Helena, Montana just after the state's 911 system went from local operators to a central location in Billings, ("cost saving&quot a couple hundred miles + away. Most people didn't know of the change yet. My friend's wife didn't know she was speaking to someone in Billings. Billings operator didn't know she had someone in Helena on the line, sent her local EMS team to the address given address, but in the wrong city.

His wife blamed herself for EMS not getting to the house 'in time' She did CPR for an hour before Billings 911 realized the mistake, sent call to Helena and that local EMS team finally got to her door. Doctor who did autopsy told her there would have been nothing they could do if he had been on an operating table when it happened (40 years ago). But, of course, she still thought she should have been able to save him.

I know the feeling.

Sympthsical

(11,373 posts)
7. Reminds me of my grandma
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 06:53 PM
1 hr ago

A cerebral hemorrhage instead of aortic dissection, but similar scenario. She was on the phone with my aunt and said her vision was going out and she felt like she was going to collapse. My aunt said she was calling 911. My grandma said she'd unlock the kitchen door.

She never made it to the door. She fell right in front of it. The paramedics ended up going around the back to get in.

Things happen that fast.

LisaL

(48,287 posts)
11. Chest pains is one of the possible symptomps.
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:32 PM
1 hr ago

So yes, you are wrong.
It sounds like he called his niece because he had chest pains, then dropped dead before medics even arrived. Which fits with aortic dissection scenario.
"Symptoms
An aortic dissection may feel like a heart attack or another heart condition. Symptoms of aortic dissection may include:

Sudden severe chest or upper back pain that spreads to the neck or back. The pain may feel like something is tearing or ripping.
Sudden severe stomach pain.
Loss of consciousness.
Shortness of breath.
Symptoms like those of a stroke, including sudden vision problems, trouble speaking, and weakness or loss of movement on one side of the body.
Leg pain and trouble walking."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-dissection/symptoms-causes/syc-20369496

LisaL

(48,287 posts)
12. And by the way, he didn't manage to unlock the door.
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:37 PM
1 hr ago

It was locked when medics got there.

Peppertoo

(458 posts)
15. He was 71, drank a lot, and was just on a long flight
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:40 PM
1 hr ago

An aortic dissection seems very likely.

And while they come on quickly, they do not have to be instantaneous.

Prairie Gates

(8,784 posts)
17. I 100% believe that he died of an aortic dissection
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:49 PM
56 min ago

I am not suggesting anything other than what the coroner is saying.

onenote

(46,502 posts)
16. Why would his niece be en route to South Carolina? He was in DC.
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:44 PM
1 hr ago

Who provided the information about where she was and where she was going.

Prairie Gates

(8,784 posts)
18. Thanks, my bad....correcting in the OP
Sun Jul 12, 2026, 07:50 PM
55 min ago

Misread the part about her being near BWI.

Thanks for the correction!

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