The Democrat was sent to a
Pittsburgh hospital after the early-morning accident, and medical professionals
concluded that he had atrial fibrillation, which caused him to feel dizzy
before he fell and suffered minor facial injuries, according to a statement
from his press secretary.
The 56-year-old senator,
according to his spokeswoman, was “grateful for the EMTs, doctors, and nurses
who are providing his care” and decided to stay in the hospital so that
medical personnel could adjust his care.
“If you thought my face
looked bad before, wait until you see it now!”
Fetterman said in a
statement released by his office, which suggested he was doing well and
undergoing routine observation.
Fetterman has experienced a
number of health issues since entering the Senate in 2023, and this is the most
recent one. A blood clot from atrial fibrillation caused him to have a severe
stroke in May 2022, just days before he won Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary.
Due to his slow recovery
from the stroke, he still struggles with auditory processing, which he
overcomes by employing closed captioning technology during Senate hearings and
talks.
He received treatment for
dizziness in February 2023, but the physicians ruled out another stroke. He
spent almost six weeks at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after
checking himself in for clinical depression later that month. Since then, he
has fought for increased understanding of mental health disorders and spoken
candidly about his struggles with mental health.
Once praised as a prominent
advocate for the party’s progressive wing, the senator has now become more and
more cut off from the Democrats on crucial votes. He was the lone Democrat to
support a continuing resolution spearheaded by Republicans in September in
order to prevent a government shutdown.
