Senator Mitch McConnell has officially broken his silence amid his weeks-long and mysterious hospitalization. The 84-year-old Republican shows proof of life and says he was “briefly unconscious” after a fall and also battled pneumonia. However, he still plans to return to the Senate to finish out his last term.
As we previously shared, the longtime Kentucky Senator was again rushed to the hospital on June 14. At the time, it was reported that he was found unconscious in his Washington, D.C. home.
Initial reports — shared by former the Senate Majority Leader’s spokesperson, David Popp — only claimed that he suffered an unspecified medical issue and was “receiving excellent care.” McConnell’s latest hospitalization followed a series of health problems over the years.
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Mitch McConnell Shows Proof Of Life After Nearly A Month After Mysterious Hospitalization
Nearly a month after being rushed to the hospital, Senator McConnell is now showing proof of life. He is also shedding light on his latest health issues.
On Sunday (July 12), the Senator and his team shared an official press release on his government website. They also reposted the message and photo to his social media pages. The photo, serving as proof of life, shows him smiling with his wife Elaine Chao at his side. McConnell is also holding what appears to be a copy of Sunday’s Washington Post sports section on his lap.
In his lengthy statement, McConnell said:
“To my fellow Kentuckians – When you elected me to a seventh term and made me our Commonwealth’s longest serving Senator, you did so trusting that I’d keep showing up to fight for you every day. And over the past several weeks, Elaine and I have appreciated both your well wishes and your honest questions about what was keeping me away from the Senate.
You all know how folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct – I can’t help it. But at the same time, I’ve had more than my share of experience with physical vulnerabilities. Surviving childhood polio meant spending my entire life with mobility challenges. They haven’t exactly gotten easier to manage with age. And last month, I took a fall which landed me in the hospital. My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.
I can assure you that I’ve been a good patient. At my age, I tend to do what my doctors tell me to do. I’ve submitted to every test they can think of to help figure out what caused this incident. And I’m continuing to do everything they ask to speed my recovery. In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength. As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you. I’ve been working closely with my legislative staff on current issues, and with my Kentucky team who help me provide timely constituent services across our Commonwealth. I’ve also been keeping in touch with my Senate colleagues on the appropriations process, midterm politics, and everything in between.
You’re right to expect your representatives to work hard for you. And part of my decision to retire at the end of my term this coming January was being honest about the demands of Senate work. But I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do. I’ll keep working hard to get back on the Senate floor as soon as possible. And I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my recovery. Until then, I’m so grateful for your prayers and well wishes.”
An additional statement from the Office of the Attending Physician read:
“Senator McConnell has experienced several falls throughout the year that have been attributed to his post-polio condition. He was admitted to the hospital four weeks ago after falling at home and sustaining minor injuries. A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage. Early in his hospitalization, he developed pneumonia, which responded rapidly to antibiotic treatment. The remainder of his hospital stay focused on physical therapy and strategies to reduce his risk of future falls. He has been medically cleared to continue fully participating in his intensive physical therapy program.”
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