Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen hospitalized following horseback riding accident
According to Fox News, Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen ended up in intensive care after being hospitalized earlier this week.
The 68-year-old governor was reportedly thrown from a horse while on a riding excursion with members of his family.
Pillen underwent minor surgery to treat spleen injury
The accident left Pillen with seven rib fractures, a partially collapsed lung, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae, a minor kidney injury, and damage to his spleen.
Dr. Hillman Terzian serves as trauma surgeon at Nebraska Medicine, and he indicated that the injury to Pillen's spleen was treated with a prophylactic embolization.
The procedure involved putting a wire into arteries located near the governor's spleen which allowed for the insertion of coils to stop the bleeding.
Fox News noted that the operation lasted for less than an hour, with Pillen temporarily relinquishing his office to Nebraska Republican Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly.
Surgeon describes governor's recovery as "very impressive"
Terzian pointed out how Pillen has "a very good prognosis" and has begun walking laps, something the surgeon described as being "very impressive."
"We don't expect anyone with his injuries to be up and running a marathon the next day, but we like them to be out of bed, to show us that they can pick up small objects, that sort of thing," the doctor explained.
Terzian further explained that Pillen had managed to avoid damage to his nervous system as well as injury to his head, neck or spinal canal.
The governor's office issued a statement which provided an update on his condition and expressed gratitude to medical staff along with first responders.
Governor watched basketball while recovering from surgery
"Gov. Pillen, First Lady Suzanne and their family are enormously grateful to the teams at Nebraska Medicine, Columbus Community Hospital, and the EMS professionals who transported him after the accident," it said.
The Governor's office expresses its deep appreciation for the well-wishes shared with Gov. Pillen and his family. Below is the link updating his recovery.https://t.co/iS47Kc5itT
— Governor Jim Pillen (@TeamPillen) December 23, 2024
"The Governor looks forward to returning to his office soon after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans," the statement went on to add.
It added that following Pillen's surgery, he "caught the second half of the Nebraska men's basketball win over Murray State in his recovery room, while chatting and joking with his family and team."
