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A US SENATOR who suffered a stroke that upended the high-stakes campaign for one of the most hotly-contested states in last year’s midterm election is receiving hospital treatment for clinical depression.
Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman — who made headlines for his imposing stature and unconventional dress style — had only just returned to work after becoming lightheaded and going into hospital last week.
The 53-year-old Democrat’s doctors determined at the time that he had not suffered another stroke, his office said.
“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” his chief of staff Adam Jentleson said in a statement.
The senator agreed with advice from medics in Congress that he check himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a 45-minute drive north of the US Capitol.
“After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself,” Jentleson added.
Fetterman’s victory in a key swing state was seen as one of the Democrats’ biggest prizes in November as they went on to win what had once looked liked an improbable 51-49 majority in the upper chamber of Congress.
It was one of the most heated and closely contested races of the midterms.
Fetterman, who stands at six foot eight inches (2.03 meters) and was notable for his ever-present hoodie and shorts on the campaign trail, defeated celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, who had the endorsement of former president Donald Trump.
But his stroke five months before the vote severely curtailed his public appearances, as he revealed that he had “almost died.”
“After what he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John,” his wife Gisele Fetterman tweeted.
“I’m so proud of him for asking for help and getting the care he needs.”
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Best wishes to him. Clinical depression is a tough battle.
@Carm(Orange Vampire): he’s lucky to have the best help available, the rest of us are literally on the edge of ????????
Should never have put himself forward for election, clearly unfit to do the job.
@John Fahy: fitter than that g0bshite Dr. Oz.
@Jen Mc: Oz was a terrible candidate but it was known long before the election that Fetterman was have serious cognitive isues. The man has trouble deciphering what people say in a normal one on one conversation, he never had any hope of winging it as a Senator.
This is just another example of the degradation of American politics where people don’t vote for ideas or character, they simply vote for their chosen team. Put a ‘D’ on a turnip and the average Democrat will vote fo it. (same for the other side)
@Will: all that tells me is that people understandably despised Dr. Oz enough to vote for Fetterman and that the Dems didn’t have anyone more fit for purpose to put forward. Or were they looking for the sympathy vote? Either way, I’d rather Fetterman than Oz.
Get Well Soon, John, unfortunately the Repubs will be gloating over this.
Oz was a respected cardiologist. Fetterman can’t string two sentences together. Should’ve been a no brainer.
@Samantha Samantha: Oz was endorsed by Trump, that was the end of his hopes.
@Samantha Samantha: You must have missed the bit where Oz defrauded his TV audience by selling and making millions out of meds that didn’t work or Oprah’s criticism of him. Did you read the bit on Fetterman’s success in fighting crime and the fact that he has his own opinions. As for the cardiology bit, he certainly didn’t show John Fetterman much sympathy after his stroke, which doesn’t reflect well on him.
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