Family Creates Tournament to Raise Awareness Following Loss of Husband and Son to Loeys-Dietz Syndrome
For father and son Greg and Trent Hall, cornhole was a family favorite.
“It's a backyard game that we played all the time—at home and when we went camping," said wife and mom Lory Hall. "Both Greg and Trent were really good at it. In recent years, Trent and his friends would play before their softball games or anywhere they could get a game in."
Greg lost his life suddenly in 2020 from cardiac arrest at age 46. Five years later, tragedy struck again. Just weeks after his 23rd birthday, in December 2025, Greg and Lory's only child, Trent, passed away from a fatal aortic dissection. Post-mortem, Trent was found to have had Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS).
"Getting this [post-mortem] diagnosis really opened our eyes to how important early screening and proper monitoring are," said Lory. Now, she is honoring the memory of her husband and son by hosting a cornhole tournament on August 29 at the Toledo Beach Marina - The Sand Bar in LaSalle, Michigan.
Family History Warning Obscured by Lack of Medical Awareness
The Hall family history had offered important clues over the course of many years, but lack of early diagnosis, awareness, and Loeys-Dietz-focused medical management meant a murky healthcare journey for the Halls —one where two lives were ultimately lost.
Lory Hall knew that serious health problems —including aneurysms—had affected generations of Greg's family, including Greg’s grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister.
Still, for a long time, said Lory, nobody suggested genetic testing for the rest of the family.
The Halls first formally learned about Loeys-Dietz syndrome in 2023 after Greg’s sister underwent genetic testing. Previously, in 2019, she’d been found to have subclavian artery aneurysms after she was hospitalized following a car accident. But it wasn't until she experienced an aortic dissection and stroke in 2023 that she underwent genetic testing and was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 3.
Following his aunt’s diagnosis, Lory thought it might be important for Trent to be tested, noting that her son had been born with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). But neither healthcare teams members nor the family fully understood the urgency or potential impact of LDS across generations.
Over the next couple of years, Trent continued to deal with a recurring shoulder injury.
"Our 100-pound Labrador ripped his shoulder out of its socket, and then it just kept falling out," Lory said. "After the third time, the orthopedic surgeon said he needed surgery, but first he had to be cleared by a cardiologist."
At this point, Trent underwent genetic testing, but the results were never fully explained to Lory and the family.
"The cardiologist said there were abnormalities, but he was focused on getting Trent's blood pressure under control," Lory said. "I told Trent several times that we needed to talk with the doctor about the test, but he was 22, and I don't think he really wanted to know after seeing what his aunt went through."
Three days prior to Trent’s passing, Lory took him to the doctor because he was experiencing chest pain. "They did an X-ray and ruled out pneumonia, COVID, and the flu," she recalls. The doctor suspected pericarditis and sent Trent home with antibiotics and a nebulizer. “He seemed to be fine,” said Lory.
Ultimately, Trent's autopsy and genetic test revealed something entirely different: Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
"So, we learned that the condition had been quietly passed down on his father's side for generations," said Lory.
A Mission to Raise Life-Saving Awareness
Sparing others’ the pain her family is experiencing motivated Lory to create the 2026 Halle-wood Bag Toss Tournament .
“Early detection of Loeys-Dietz syndrome can be a game changer,” said Stacey Watson, Director of Loeys-Dietz and Marfan at the Marfan Foundation. “It allows for proactive monitoring and treatment that can help prevent life-threatening complications. It also gives individuals and families time to build the right medical team, understand their risks, and make informed decisions that can improve both quality of life and long-term health.
Lory is hoping for a good turnout for the cornhole tournament.
“It’s right near my house and the marina is donating the space to hold the event. A good family friend runs cornhole tournaments professionally so he's volunteering and bringing some professional people in. We have dozens committed already, but I think a lot of people will just show up and register to play there,” she said, adding that her goal is to present the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation—a division of the Marfan Foundation—with thousands of dollars to support research and community programs.
In addition to cornhole, Greg and Trent were active people who shared a love of baseball. “Greg had coached Trent from T-ball on through high school. That was Trent’s sport, his passion. He played second base and pitcher for school and travel ball.”
Lory describes her son as "a very wise old soul. From what I've gathered, he was kind of like the dad of his group of friends," she says.
Trent graduated with an associate degree in business administration from the University of Toledo before launching his own landscaping and snow removal business. "He was successful at that," Lory says. "He was still so young, he was just starting to travel, and in the process of figuring it all out."
"I'm hoping that by raising funds, bringing awareness, and educating others, no one else has to go through what we've gone through," she says.
Information about the tournament in memory of Greg & Trent:
2026 Halle-wood Bag Toss Tournament
Saturday, August 29, 2026, starting at Noon.
Toledo Beach Marina – The Sand Bar
11801 Toledo Beach Rd, La Salle, MI 48145