Father and Son Prove Why Family History of Aortic Aneurysms Shouldn't Be Ignored

Whether it's traveling or working around the house, 84-year-old Paul Goske keeps himself busy even in retirement. His son Joe Goske describes him as independent and strong-willed. So, when Joe asked his dad to go to a follow-up doctor’s appointment with him, he wasn’t eager at first.

“I’m kind of hardheaded, and I didn’t want anybody going with me because it was just a routine appointment. But I lost that argument, and thank God I did,” says Paul of Boardman, Ohio. 

“I wanted to go with my dad to support him, but it turns out I needed to be there for a much bigger reason. I can’t even put into words how important it was I went to that appointment, and who knows what would’ve happened if I hadn’t,” says Joe, 56, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. 

While the purpose was to check on Paul’s heart and previously diagnosed aortic aneurysm, Joe would learn the same condition his father has could potentially be hereditary. In the early 2000s, Paul’s doctor at the time discovered he had a heart murmur during a routine physical. From there, a local cardiologist closely monitored him for some time.

“Things progressed, and my cardiologist said I was going to need surgery. He advised me to go to Cleveland Clinic,” says Paul.

At Cleveland Clinic, his care team, which included cardiologist Richard Grimm, DO, determined he needed an aortic valve replacement. Since undergoing that surgery in 2005, Paul says he hasn’t had any problems with his heart. Regarding his aortic aneurysm, his doctors decided monitoring it moving forward was the best approach.

An aortic aneurysm develops when there’s a weakening in the wall of the heart’s main artery called the aorta. The pressure of blood pumping through the artery causes a balloon-like bulge in the weak area of the aorta. This bulge is called an aortic aneurysm, which may rupture or dissect and cause life-threatening internal bleeding or block the flow of blood from your heart to other organs. Sometimes surgery is required to prevent this, but in cases like Paul’s, it can be safely monitored. Paul now has regular follow-ups to keep track of his aortic aneurysm. During an appointment with Eric Roselli, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon and Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, Joe found out having this family history puts him potentially at risk for one as well.

“Dr. Roselli asked if any of my brothers and I had gone to get checked for an aortic aneurysm. We hadn’t at that point, so he strongly recommended we have an echo done,” says Joe.

An echocardiogram and CT scan confirmed Joe had an aortic aneurysm as well. “I was shocked because I had no symptoms. I’m super active and had run six half marathons and a full marathon at that point,” says Joe. 

He was then referred to cardiothoracic surgeon Patrick Vargo, MD, who says Joe caught it at the right time.

“Joe’s aortic aneurysm had reached the size where it was time to intervene. It wasn’t too soon. It wasn't too late. It was well timed, and we were able to make a plan to address it without it being an emergency situation,” says Dr. Vargo.

In October 2024, Joe underwent a valve-sparing aortic root replacement. The procedure removed his aortic aneurysm while keeping his natural aortic valve. Keeping the natural valve when it’s healthy lowers the risk of complications after surgery.

“The procedure went smoothly. We addressed Joe’s aortic aneurysm, and his valve is functioning very well. He’ll continue to follow up with our cardiology team, but his outlook is excellent from here,” says Dr. Vargo.

After surgery, Joe had 12 weeks of cardiac rehab and says it took him a few months to fully feel like himself again. Now, Joe’s back to running and biking several miles each week as well as enjoying time with his fiancée and children. Meanwhile, Paul’s care team continues to monitor his aortic aneurysm, which remains stable. Looking back, they’re thankful for that appointment in March, which ended up turning into what they call a life-saving experience.

“I’m not missing any of my dad’s appointments now. After going through this, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life. I don’t take anything for granted,” says Joe.

“I’m thankful Joe didn’t listen to me and came to my appointment. If it hadn’t been for that, who knows what would’ve happened,” says Paul.

The father-son duo as well as their care team hope to raise awareness about the importance of knowing your family history, especially when it comes to heart health.

“If there's a family history of aortic aneurysms, we recommend first-degree relatives get screened. Detecting an aortic aneurysm early is key to managing it safely and avoiding a potentially life-threatening situation,” says Dr. Vargo.

“Don’t skip those annual visits with your doctor and bring up anything that runs in your family. If I can help convince one person to go get checked, it's all worth it,” says Joe.