U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was hospitalized this week, according to the Washington Examiner. 

The incident occurred on Wednesday after the 53-year-old Fetterman said that he "began feeling lightheaded" during a Democrat retreat in which he was participating.

Subsequently, Fetterman was taken by staff to the George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C.

Fetterman's wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, provided an update on the situation on Thursday. She wrote:

Friends, thank you to everyone who has sent good wishes our way during this hectic time  We are happy to share that there are no signs of a stroke  the amazing doctors & staff @GWHospital continue monitoring and I’m so grateful to them and to all of you.

He's been released

Fetterman stayed at the hospital for two nights in order to undergo testing. More updates were provided by his staff on Thursday. It wrote:

According to John's doctors at The George Washington University Hospital, the results of the MRI, along with the results of all of the other tests the doctors ran, rule out a new stroke," the statement said. He is being monitored with an EEG for signs of seizure—so far there are no signs of seizure, but he is still being monitored.

Fetterman would be released from the hospital on Friday.

Fetterman's office provided a final update on the situation at the time of release.

The statement reads:

A few minutes ago, Sen. John Fetterman was discharged from The George Washington University Hospital. In addition to the CT, CTA, and MRI tests ruling out a stroke, his EEG test results came back normal, with no evidence of seizures. John is looking forward to spending some time with his family.

Fetterman is expected to return to his official duties as a U.S. Senator on Monday.

Background

Concerns about Fetterman's health have been raised for some time, particularly in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections.

Fetterman had previously suffered a stroke, and there have been obvious signs that he has struggled with his recovery. But, the specifics of the situation have largely been kept hidden from the public.

The New York Times finally acknowledged the situation in a piece that it published on the day that Fetterman was released from the hospital.

The Times writes that Fetterman's "physical impairment and serious mental health challenges have rendered the transition [to being a U.S. Senator] extraordinarily challenging — even with the accommodations that have been made to help him adapt."

One wonders if Fetterman would have still been elected had the American public known about his health struggles before the election.