Aortic Dissection + Niece Phone Call?

[Prairie Gates]

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.

[canetoad]

1. I could be wrong

But think that's what killed Lucille Ball.

[Raven123]

2. I had the same recollection.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. It's what killed John Ritter and yes, that's what killed her also. nt

[yardwork]

4. I experienced a Spontaneous Arterial Dissection.

Last edited Sun Jul 12, 2026, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)

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

People experience things differently.

Edit: mine involved an artery, rather than aorta.

Also adding edit: I had no idea I was at risk. No high cholesterol, no blockages, no hypertension. One day it just blew without warning. I was experiencing a lot of stress leading up to the event.

I gotta wonder if that phone call with Trump upset Graham.

[Attilatheblond]

6. You were damned lucky!

Sometimes the tear is big and blood loss massive.

[yardwork]

8. Yes! Mine was in a small artery.

If it happens to the big aorta - curtains.

[Prairie Gates]

10. Ayo that's amazin'

[yardwork]

19. There's a typo in my post. I'll correct.

I had a Spontaneous Arterial Dissection involving a minor artery. I recovered fully after emergency insertion of a stent.

When it involves a big aorta - as with Graham - the outcome is not good.

[spinbaby]

21. You're very lucky

I know someone who experienced it on a cruise and lived only because they happened to be docked in a country with excellent medical facilities. Perfectly healthy until his aorta started falling apart.

[Attilatheblond]

5. It's what killed my husband; it is not instantious. But it doesn't take long.

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.

[yardwork]

9. I'm very sorry for your loss.

[Sympthsical]

7. Reminds me of my grandma

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.

[Prairie Gates]

14. Almost exactly the same scenario

Locked door and everything! Wow!

[LeftInTX]

22. Both my mom and grandmother died of this

My mom felt crappy all day (really bad headache) and my dad kinda didn't know what to do with her. She had alot of health problems and just figured it was a bad case of aches and pains. Around 5:30 pm, she appeared to have a seizure. She lost conciousness fairly quickly. And after numerous scans, she was removed from life support the next morning. She died about 40 hours after being removed from life support.

My grandmother was at the senior center playing cards and collapsed. She died a few hours later. No telling if she had a headache or anything ahead of time. She may have been on a ventilator for a short time.

A friend of mine had a cousin, who had a headache for months. She went out on a boat with her boyfriend and started screaming, "My headache!!!"

[LisaL]

11. Chest pains is one of the possible symptomps.

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

[yardwork]

20. As a PSA, I always mention that women's symptoms can be different.

My event was a Spontaneous Arterial Dissection, so nowhere near as serious as an aortic dissection. I was eating lunch with a colleague and had sudden indigestion. I took a couple Tums but felt worse. I felt restless, slightly short of breath, sort of low key agitated. Minor pain in left arm.

I remembered from grad school that women's heart attacks can present differently, which is why I drive myself to the ED, walked in and told them I thought I might be having a heart attack. They grabbed me and did emergency surgery. I have no permanent damage.

I could possibly have just gone home to try to sleep it off and that would have been bad.

[LisaL]

12. And by the way, he didn't manage to unlock the door.

It was locked when medics got there.

[Prairie Gates]

13. Already stated in the OP

Read more carefully.



ON EDIT: As should I (see below)!

[Peppertoo]

15. He was 71, drank a lot, and was just on a long flight

An aortic dissection seems very likely.

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

[Prairie Gates]

17. I 100% believe that he died of an aortic dissection

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

[onenote]

16. Why would his niece be en route to South Carolina? He was in DC.

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

[Prairie Gates]

18. Thanks, my bad....correcting in the OP

Misread the part about her being near BWI.

Thanks for the correction!