On Monday February 7th, a genetics counselor from the University of Texas called to talk to me about my willingness to participate in aortic disease research for them. They had contacted me several weeks ago, and said that someone would be in touch.
Some of the main causes of an aorta dissection are chronic blood pressure, genetics and marfan syndrome. Also, many dissections occur in people ages sixty and older. Since none of these causes pertain to me, testing is going to be done to see if there is some form of genetic mutation that could have helped in causing my dissection.
This particular research group is part of the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health. I am willing and happy to provide any help that I can to further help educate people about aortic disease. These research studies aim to learn more about the genes that cause people to have aortic aneurysms and acute aortic dissections. Further identification of the genes that cause people to have these conditions will increase their ability to identify who is at risk and provide information on how to better diagnose and manage aortic and vascular diseases.
Walt's Journey 
Sounds like this may be one of the ways God will use your experience to help others. Hope today is going well for you and your are having less pain.