Ethan Rhodes
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was hospitalized twice in February 2023 for lightheadedness and severe depression. Fetterman had previously suffered a stroke in May 2022, during his Senate campaign, which he said nearly killed him. The stroke left him with auditory processing disorder and post-stroke depression, affecting his ability to speak fluidly and process spoken conversation. Fetterman's office announced that he was on a path to recovery but did not provide a timeline for his return to the Senate. In March 2023, Fetterman's spokesperson said he was getting better and would be back soon. Fetterman was released from the hospital in August 2023 and returned to the Senate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hospitalization | Suffered a stroke in May 2022, which nearly killed him |
| Underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage two heart conditions | |
| Hospitalized for "severe" depression in February 2023 | |
| Hospitalized twice in February 2023 for lightheadedness | |
| Recovery | On the path to recovery |
| Expected to return to the Senate soon, but no certain timeline | |
| Receiving daily in-person briefings and issuing statements through his office | |
| Making friends with colleagues and speaking out on progressive issues |
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What You'll Learn
Fetterman's history of depression
Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, has had a long history of depression. Fetterman himself has acknowledged that he has experienced depression "off and on throughout his life". However, it was only recently, after suffering a stroke in May 2022, that his condition worsened.
Fetterman's stroke occurred while he was campaigning for the U.S. Senate, and he chose to make his health issues public, aware that it could cost him necessary votes. He even addressed his health during a debate with his opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former TV personality. Fetterman's openness about his health made him the target of attacks during the campaign, which he believes exacerbated his depression.
Following his election victory, Fetterman continued to struggle with the after-effects of his stroke, including auditory processing disorder, which can affect one's ability to speak fluidly and process spoken conversation. In February 2023, just a month after being sworn into Congress, Fetterman admitted himself to the hospital for treatment for severe depression. He spent six weeks in the neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, undergoing therapy and medication adjustments.
Fetterman has described his struggle with depression as a bleak period in his life, during which he felt barely able to function. He considered himself lucky to have survived and emerged from this dark time feeling transformed. Fetterman has since returned to work and has become an advocate for mental health treatment, sharing his own experiences publicly.
Despite his recovery and return to work, some staffers have expressed concern about Fetterman's well-being. In May 2024, his chief of staff, Adam Jentelson, wrote a letter expressing worry about Fetterman's trajectory and noting that he had been avoiding regular check-ups, preoccupied with social media, and making concerning decisions such as purchasing a gun. Jentelson eventually resigned, citing Fetterman's alarming behaviour and isolation from his support system.
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Fetterman's stroke and its after-effects
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) suffered a stroke in May 2022 while campaigning in a three-way Democratic primary race. The stroke was caused by a blockage of blood flow and oxygen to a certain part of the brain, resulting in an ischemic stroke. This type of stroke accounts for about 85% of new stroke cases each year in the United States and can cause a range of symptoms, including facial droop, speech changes, and limb weakness. Fetterman's stroke nearly killed him, and he underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage two heart conditions: atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy.
Fetterman has experienced several after-effects from the stroke, including auditory processing disorder and aphasia, which have impacted his ability to speak fluidly and process spoken conversation. He has used devices that transcribe spoken words in real time during conversations, meetings, and congressional hearings. Fetterman has also dealt with post-stroke depression, a common after-effect experienced by one-third of stroke patients. He has been open about his mental health struggles, which has led to intense scrutiny and criticism regarding his ability to function in his role as a senator.
Fetterman's health issues became a central talking point during his campaign, and he struggled to communicate at times during debates. Despite this, he won the primary while still in the hospital and went on to defeat GOP nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz in November 2022, securing a 51-49 majority for the Democrats. Fetterman was sworn into office on January 3, 2023.
In February 2023, Fetterman was hospitalized for inpatient treatment for clinical depression. His office stated that he had experienced depression throughout his life, but it had recently worsened. Fetterman's hospitalization was recommended by the Capitol physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, after conducting an evaluation. While there was no certain timeline for his return, Fetterman's office expected him to resume his duties soon.
The senator's staff reported that he was making good progress and receiving daily briefings while issuing statements and sponsoring legislation. Fetterman himself acknowledged that the stroke had changed everything about his daily life, and he was expected to be hospitalized for a weeks-long process. While there is no specific information publicly available about his current condition, Fetterman appears to be on the path to recovery and is receiving the time and support he needs during this challenging period.
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Fetterman's return to the Senate
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was released from the hospital in August 2023 and was expected to return to the Senate when the chamber was back in session on Monday. Fetterman had been admitted to the hospital twice in February 2023 for lightheadedness and "severe" depression.
Fetterman's health issues became a central talking point during his campaign trail after he suffered a stroke in May 2022. The stroke nearly killed him, and he underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage two heart conditions: atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy. Fetterman experienced several after-effects from the stroke, including auditory processing disorder, which can affect one's ability to speak fluidly and process spoken conversation. Fetterman also experienced post-stroke depression, a common after-effect that affects one in three stroke patients.
Despite his health challenges, Fetterman won the primary while in the hospital and went on to defeat GOP nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz in November 2022, securing a 51-49 majority for the Democrats. Fetterman was sworn into office on January 3, 2023, and has since kept a full schedule, participating in Senate hearings and flying on Air Force One with President Joe Biden.
Upon his return to the Senate, Fetterman is expected to resume his legislative duties and continue advocating for progressive issues. Fetterman's office has stated that he is getting better and that his recovery is going well. Fetterman has been receiving daily in-person briefings from his chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, and has been issuing statements through his office while sponsoring legislation.
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Fetterman's health during the campaign trail
Sen. John Fetterman's health issues became a central talking point on the campaign trail after he suffered a stroke in May 2022, ahead of his primary win. The health complication was so severe that Fetterman said he ""almost died" from it. The stroke left Fetterman with auditory processing disorder, which can render someone unable to speak fluently and quickly process spoken conversation.
During a debate against former TV personality and opponent, Mehmet Oz, Fetterman appeared to struggle to communicate at times, mumbling his words as he answered questions, including about his health issues. Oz focused on Fetterman's health throughout the campaign trail, accusing him of not being transparent enough about his health and questioning his fitness to serve. Fetterman underwent months of rehabilitation exercises to improve his speaking ability and relied on closed-captioning devices to help him communicate.
Fetterman's health issues continued into 2023, as he experienced bouts of "severe" depression. In February, he checked himself into the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for inpatient treatment for clinical depression. Fetterman's office said he had experienced depression "off and on throughout his life," but it had only become severe in recent weeks. The Capitol physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, recommended Fetterman's hospitalization after conducting an evaluation.
Fetterman was expected to return to the Senate soon, but no specific timeline was given. His spokesperson, Joe Calvello, said that Fetterman was getting better and that his recovery was going well. Fetterman was receiving daily in-person briefings and was issuing statements through his office while sponsoring legislation. Despite his health challenges, Fetterman remained engaged in Senate work and was determined to recover and fulfil his duties.
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Fetterman's hospitalisation in February 2023
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.), who was elected to his first senate term in November 2022, was hospitalized twice in February 2023 for lightheadedness and "severe" depression. Fetterman, who had suffered a stroke in May 2022, experienced a worsening bout of depression and checked himself into the hospital on the recommendation of the Capitol physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan.
Fetterman was initially admitted to the George Washington University Hospital after feeling lightheaded during a Senate Democratic retreat. He remained there overnight before being discharged the next day. However, just one week later, he checked himself into the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for inpatient treatment for clinical depression.
Fetterman's office said that he had experienced depression "off and on throughout his life," but it had only become severe in recent weeks. Post-stroke depression is a common aftereffect, with one in three stroke patients experiencing it. Fetterman's health issues became a central talking point during his campaign, and he has been open about the impact of the stroke on his daily life, including his hearing, processing, and auditory functions.
While there was no certain timeline for Fetterman's return to the Senate, his office expected him to return soon. Fetterman's spokesperson, Joe Calvello, said that the senator was getting better and that his recovery was going well. Fetterman was receiving daily in-person briefings and was issuing statements through his office while sponsoring legislation.
Fetterman was released from the hospital in early August 2023 and returned to the Senate the following Monday. He had undergone a procedure to implant a pacemaker and defibrillator in his chest and was expected to fully recover. Fetterman's impaired speaking ability caused him to repeat words and sometimes use them in the wrong order, but this was not due to a decline in cognitive skills. He underwent rehabilitation exercises and used closed-captioning devices to aid his communication.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Fetterman was released from the hospital on August 3, 2023, and returned to the Senate on August 7, 2023.
Fetterman was admitted to the hospital for clinical depression and lightheadedness. He also suffered a stroke in May 2022, which resulted in auditory processing disorder and post-stroke depression.
Fetterman underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker and defibrillator in his chest to manage two heart conditions: atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy. He also received medication for his depression and underwent rehabilitation exercises to improve his speaking ability.
Fetterman's office and colleagues have reported that he is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery. He has returned to work in the Senate and is sponsoring legislation.
