John Fetterman’s wife shared sweet photos of the senator smiling while dining with his family at Wendy’s while taking a break from Walter Reed’s treatment for depression.
The 53-year-old Pennsylvania Democrat checked into Walter Reed in Maryland last month after his clinical depression became more “severe.”
Fetterman also suffered a stroke in May and his sensory and communication problems have been well documented since he was sworn in as a senator in January.
His wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, posted a sweet snapshot of the family surrounded by empty Wendy’s cups and boxes of chips at the hospital on Friday.
“We can do hard things when we do them together,” he wrote on Twitter. “Very proud of João, the children and everyone who shared their own struggles with us in the last few weeks. It gets better.
Sen. John Fetterman, 53, snuggled up with his wife Gisele at a Wendy’s near Walter Reed after signing up for clinical treatment for depression last month.
Gisele Barreto Fetterman (pictured with her family) posted a sweet snap of the family surrounded by empty Wendy’s cups and chip boxes at the hospital on Friday.
The mother-of-three also posted sticky notes attached to what appears to be a bookcase frame displaying drawings of the family and their dogs, as well as precious notes from her children to their father. Some say ‘you’re going to get better’, ‘we love you so much’, ‘you are (sic) in my heart dad’ and ‘best dad ever’.
The mother-of-three also posted photos of sticky notes attached to what appears to be a bookcase frame, showing adorable drawings of the family and their dogs.
Encouraging notes from his sons also grace the shelf saying ‘you’ll get better’, ‘we love you so much’, ‘you’re (sic) in my heart daddy’ and ‘best dad ever’.
‘Hey!! Dad, just so you know I’m always in your heart. Love, August,’ read another.
In early February, the Pennsylvania senator was treated at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, for dizziness. Doctors ruled out another stroke at the time, having had one in May 2022, and he was released.
His chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, said he “has experienced depression from time to time throughout his life” but ultimately decided to seek treatment when he was examined by Dr. Brian Monahan, the United States Congressional Assistant Physician. .
“John is getting the care he needs and will soon be back to his old self,” Jentleson added, dismissing concerns that his health could affect his political future.
Last month, Fetterman was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital after feeling dizzy at a Democratic retreat and spent two nights for observation. The doctors said that he did not suffer a second stroke.
After returning to Congress, Brian P. Monahan, the congressional assistant physician, examined Fetterman and encouraged him to seek hospital treatment for depression that had become “serious in recent weeks,” according to Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s chief of staff. .
Senator John Fetterman poses for his official photo with his wife, Gisele, and their three children, after Vice President Kama Harris (second from right) was sworn in.
Shortly after her husband registered, she took her children on a trip to Canada to avoid the “media circus.”
A senior aide told NBC it’s been a challenge differentiating between the senator’s stroke recovery and depression, and the staffer says it’s sometimes unclear if he’s “not listening to him or if he’s crippled by his depression.” and social anxiety.
He voluntarily entered Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, on February 16.
“We understand the intense interest in John’s status and especially appreciate the outpouring of well wishes,” Calvello said. “However, as we’ve said, this will be a weeks long process and while we’ll be sure to keep people up to date as it progresses, this is all there is to offer by way of update.”
On February 24, the senator’s wife posted on social media that she drove to Niagara Falls via Buffalo, New York, with her children Karl, Grace, and August due to media presence outside her Braddock home, then of the news of her husband’s treatment.
‘I’m not really sure how to navigate this journey, but I’m slowly figuring it out. 1 week ago today when the news broke the kids were out of school and media trucks surrounded our house,” he tweeted.
“I did the first thing that came to mind…pack them in the car and drive,” she wrote after reports her husband could spend weeks in hospital while doctors work on treatment and medication.
‘We talked about a lot of hard things and how we’re all going to have to face hard things. About the need to be kind… to everyone and to ourselves,’ continued Gisele Fetterman.
She also posted a video in which she calmly talks about how her son August got stuck on the zip line, filming the post while a “rescue” was being performed.
“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 mind,” he added.
