Patrick Stapleton’s debut novel honors his sister while raising awareness of the connective tissue condition. 

More than two decades after Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) was first identified, an updated management primer is redefining how clinicians understand and care for the condition. 
The recommendations in the original LDS primer, published in 2014, helped establish basic standards of care for what was still considered a newly recognized connective tissue condition. At the time, the guidance was highly focused on one thing: preventing catastrophic aortic events.  

This collection of children’s books has been thoughtfully curated to support families navigating hospital visits, chronic or rare conditions, visible differences, big feelings, and resilience. While these books are not condition-specific medical guidance, they offer comfort, understanding, and language for conversations that can sometimes feel hard to start.

‘Heart Attack’ Leads to a Diagnosis of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome and Shines Light on a Family’s Medical Mysteries