Senator John Fetterman has been hospitalized in DC after feeling lightheaded at a Democratic retreat, according to his office.
Fetterman has a heart condition and suffered a stroke on May 13, 2022 — four days before he won the Democratic primary.
"Towards the end of the Senate Democratic retreat today, Senator John Fetterman began feeling lightheaded," Fetterman's communications director, Joe Calvello, said in a statement on Wednesday evening. "He left and called his staff, who picked him up and drove him to The George Washington University Hospital." 🚨 BREAKING: John Fetterman has been hospitalized after “feeling lightheaded” during a D.C. retreat for Senate Democrats pic.twitter.com/ANjVIiTzpF
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 9, 2023
Calvello said that "initial tests did not show evidence of a new stroke, but doctors are running more tests, and John is remaining overnight for observation."
"He is in good spirits and talking with his staff and family," Calvello continued. "We will provide more information when we have it."
Fetterman was elected in November after defeating television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz in the midterm election.
After his stroke, Fetterman underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator. I hope John Fetterman is OK. It seems a bit foreboding that the guy was rushed to the hospital a month after taking office. Maybe the media should have been more honest about his health issues.
— Mike LaChance (@MikeLaChance33) February 9, 2023
In October, Fetterman's doctor Clifford Chen, MD. said he is "recovering well from his stroke and his health has continued to improve." However, he noted that the senator continued to “exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty.”
According to a report from ABC 27, "the letter also disclosed that Fetterman is regularly attending speech therapy since suffering his stroke. Fetterman is also said to be taking medications to prevent future strokes and optimize his heart condition and exercises routinely while walking four to five miles regularly."
