Gisele Fetterman took her children on a road trip to Canada while her husband, Senator John Fetterman, continued treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“We don’t have much to update people as there is no real news to report other than John is doing well, he is working with the wonderful doctors and he continues to be on the road to recovery,” Fetterman spokesman said. Joe Calvello in a statement on Monday.
In early February, the Pennsylvania senator was treated for vertigo at George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC. Doctors then ruled out another stroke – the first was in May 2022 – and he was discharged.
After returning to Congress, he was examined by Congressional attending physician Brian P. Monahan, who recommended that Fetterman seek inpatient treatment for depression that “became severe in recent weeks,” according to Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s chief of staff. He voluntarily admitted himself to Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, on February 16.
Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., continues treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed Hospital after checking himself in on Feb. 16, 2023.
“We understand the intense interest in John’s status and especially appreciate the outpouring of congratulations,” Calvello said. “As we’ve said, this will be a weeks-long process and while we’ll be sure to update people as it progresses, this is all there is to say in the form of an update.”
Gisele Baretto Fetterman, the senator’s wife, posted on social media that she took an impromptu road trip to Canada’s Niagra Falls via Buffalo, New York due to the media presence outside their home in Braddock, following news of her husband’s treatment.
“I’m not exactly sure how to navigate this journey, but I’m slowly figuring it out. A week ago today, when the news broke, the kids were out of school and media trucks were circling our house,” she said tweeted on Friday.
“I did the first thing I could think of… put them in the car and drive,” she wrote, after it was reported that her husband could spend weeks in the hospital while doctors worked on treatment and medication.
“We drove straight to…Canada (and beautiful Buffalo NY) (Pro tip: always keep passports handy in case you have to flee),” she continued, indicating that the family discussed some of the stark seriousness with which they face.
“We talked about a lot of hard things and how we’re all going to have to go through hard things. About the need to be gentle… with everyone and with ourselves,” she continued.
She also posted a video calmly discussing how their son August got stuck ziplining – recording the post while a “rescue” was in progress.
“We did some scary things, but we did them together. We ziplined over Niagara Falls and August got stuck. We talked about flexibility and the need to always have an open heart and an open mind,” she added.
Senator John Fetterman poses for his official photo with his wife, Gisele, and his three children, after being sworn in by Vice President Kama Harris (second from right)
‘I did the first thing I could think of’: Gisele Fetterman took the kids she shares with Senator John Fetterman on a road trip to Canada through Upstate New York while her husband, Senator John Fetterman, is being treated for depression
Her posts have been viewed thousands of times. She said the kids were off school
She pointed the finger at media trucks that surrounded her house
Fetterman is being treated for depression just weeks after being sworn in. He continues to recover from the effects of a stroke in May 2022.
High wire act: Gisele posted a video of what she said about her son August getting stuck on a zip wire
The six-foot-tall, heavily tattooed former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania was elected in November after suffering a stroke in May.
During his recovery, he struggled with sensory processing issues and relies on computer software simultaneous interpretation in media interviews and to perform his Senate duties.
A senior aide told NBC it was challenging to distinguish between the senator’s stroke recovery and the depression, with the aide saying it’s sometimes unclear if he “doesn’t hear you,” or if he’s a little crippled. is because of his depression and social anxiety.
CNN reported Friday that Fetterman’s symptoms included weight loss and lack of appetite, leading up to his stint at George Washington University Hospital last week where he complained of dizziness.
President Joe Biden issued a statement of support last week. “John, Gisele – Jill and I are thinking about your family today. Millions of people struggle with depression every day, often in private. Getting the care you need is courageous and important. Thank you for leading by example,” Biden tweeted.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz, whose family struggles with mental health issues, said he and his wife Heidi were “lifting John up in prayer.”
“Psychiatric conditions are real and serious, and I hope he gets the care he needs. Whichever side of the political path you’re on, please respect his family’s request for privacy,” Cruz asked.
