Tessa Quinn
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was hospitalized in Colorado in 2015 during a trip to the annual meeting of the Aerospace States Association. Ivey, who was the lieutenant governor at the time, experienced lightheadedness during the meeting and was taken to the hospital, where she remained until Sunday. While the Alabama Political Reporter stated that Ivey was admitted due to stroke-like symptoms, Ivey and her office have disputed this, claiming that her lightheadedness was due to altitude sickness. Ivey has faced scrutiny for not releasing her health records and has dodged questions about the topic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2015 |
| Month | April |
| Place | Colorado Springs |
| Event | Annual meeting of the Aerospace States Association |
| Position | Vice chair of the association |
| Day | Friday |
| Time of Day | After lunch |
| Symptoms | Light-headedness |
| Diagnosis | Altitude sickness |
| Hospital Stay | Friday night, Saturday, discharged on Sunday |
| Stroke | Denied by Kay Ivey |
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What You'll Learn
Kay Ivey experienced lightheadedness at the Aerospace States Association meeting
In 2015, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was presiding over the annual Aerospace States Association meeting in Colorado Springs when she experienced lightheadedness. After lunch on Friday, Ivey began to feel unwell and was advised to seek medical attention. She was subsequently hospitalized for two nights and discharged on Sunday.
Ivey's health has been a topic of interest and scrutiny, particularly during the gubernatorial race. While Ivey has confirmed that she was hospitalized during the Colorado trip, she has disputed claims that she suffered a mini-stroke or stroke-like symptoms. She attributed her lightheadedness to altitude sickness, a common condition that can occur when individuals ascend to higher elevations.
Ivey's physician, Dr. Brian Elrod, supported her statement by releasing a letter confirming that he saw no evidence of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or any other cardiovascular issues when he examined her after her discharge. Additionally, hospital tests conducted in Colorado were also negative for any stroke-related issues.
Despite Ivey's assertions, there have been conflicting reports and speculations. Spencer Collier, the state's former top law enforcement officer, claimed that Ivey exhibited stroke-like symptoms and experienced a TIA during the trip. He stated that the trooper travelling with Ivey reported her condition to their commanding officer and that Ivey's chief of staff, Steve Pelham, instructed the trooper not to disclose the incident.
Ivey and her spokesperson, Daniel Sparkman, denied the allegation of instructing the trooper to withhold information. They maintained that Ivey's health was not a cause for concern and that she was in good shape to fulfil her duties as governor.
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Ivey was hospitalised for stroke-like symptoms
In 2015, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was hospitalised in Colorado during a trip to the annual meeting of the Aerospace States Association. While presiding over the meeting, Ivey became lightheaded and was encouraged by those around her to seek medical attention. She was subsequently admitted to hospital, where she remained until Sunday, having been admitted on Friday night.
Ivey, however, disputed the assertion that she had suffered a mini-stroke. She stated that she had never had a stroke or a mini-stroke, and that doctors had determined that her lightheadedness was due to altitude sickness. Ivey released a letter from her doctor, who saw no evidence of a transient ischemic attack and confirmed that she was in good health.
The hospitalisation of Ivey raised questions about the transparency of her health records. Ivey has been dismissive of releasing her medical history, describing it as a "publicity stunt". She has also questioned why her opponents in the Republican gubernatorial primary would release their health records without addressing whether she would do the same.
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Ivey's doctor attributed the symptoms to altitude sickness
In 2015, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was admitted to a hospital in Colorado during a trip to attend the Aerospace States Association annual meeting in Colorado Springs. Ivey, who was the vice-chair of the association, had arrived for the meeting on a Thursday night. The meeting started on Friday, and after lunch, Ivey, who was presiding, began to feel light-headed. She was subsequently taken to the hospital and discharged on Sunday.
Ivey's health became a matter of public interest, with the Alabama Political Reporter reporting that she had been admitted to the hospital due to stroke-like symptoms. However, Ivey disputed these claims, stating that she had never had a stroke or a mini-stroke. She attributed her lightheadedness to altitude sickness, a common condition that can occur when visiting high-altitude locations like Colorado.
Ivey's doctor, Dr. Brian Elrod, supported her assertion. In a letter released by Ivey, Dr. Elrod confirmed that he saw no evidence of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke when he examined her a day after her discharge. He also noted that the extensive tests performed at the Denver hospital, including an MRI, were negative for any signs of a stroke.
Ivey's spokesperson, Daniel Sparkman, also disputed the claim that there was an attempt to cover up the hospitalization. While there were reports that Ivey's chief of staff, Steve Pelham, directed the trooper traveling with Ivey not to tell anyone, Sparkman denied this allegation. Ivey herself suggested that the assertion of a mini-stroke was politically motivated ahead of an election.
Despite the controversy, Ivey maintained her stance that her health was in good condition. She stated that her schedule was full and demanding, indicating that she was in great shape and eager to continue her work as governor.
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Ivey refused to release her health records
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was hospitalized during a 2015 trip to Colorado. She disputed the assertion that she had suffered a mini-stroke, instead attributing her lightheadedness to altitude sickness. Ivey has refused to release her health records, despite calls from opponents and the media to do so. During a 2018 press conference, Ivey questioned why one of her opponents in the upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary would release his health records and those of his wife, without committing to doing the same. When pressed on the issue, Ivey ended the interview and walked away with her staff.
Ivey's health has been a periodic issue in Alabama's gubernatorial race. Her refusal to release her medical records has drawn criticism, particularly as all other Republican gubernatorial candidates have shared information about their health status. Ivey has dismissed her rivals' disclosures as "publicity stunts", claiming that they are attempting to gain more publicity ahead of the election.
In defence of her decision, Ivey has stated that she is in "great shape" and that her health is "doing great". She has also released a letter from her doctor, who confirmed that she was hospitalized in 2015 but saw no evidence of a mini-stroke. The letter stated that Ivey was in good health, but did not specify how long she had been in the hospital.
Spencer Collier, the state's former top law enforcement officer, contradicted Ivey's account. He asserted that Ivey had exhibited stroke-like symptoms and suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Collier claimed that Ivey's chief of staff, Steve Pelham, had instructed troopers not to disclose the incident to anyone. Ivey's spokesperson denied this accusation.
Ivey's hospitalization and refusal to release her health records have brought her medical history under scrutiny, particularly as she is the state's second female governor and assumed office following the resignation of her predecessor, Robert Bentley, due to a plea deal over campaign and ethics violations.
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Ivey disputed claims of a cover-up by her security detail
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was hospitalized during a 2015 trip to Colorado. She disputed claims of a cover-up by her security detail, specifically denying that a state officer was reassigned because he did not follow a directive to cover up the hospital stay. Ivey stated that the officer in question was actually promoted.
Ivey confirmed that she was hospitalized during the Colorado trip but attributed her lightheadedness to altitude sickness rather than a stroke or mini-stroke. She released a letter from her doctor, who saw no evidence of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and confirmed that hospital tests in Colorado were negative for any such event. Ivey's spokesman, Daniel Sparkman, also disputed the claim that the trooper was told not to tell his superiors, and Ivey herself suggested that the assertion she had a mini-stroke was politically motivated ahead of an election.
The Alabama Political Reporter first reported the story of Ivey's hospitalization, citing stroke-like symptoms as the reason for her admittance to the hospital. However, Ivey has consistently denied having a stroke or mini-stroke, both in her statements to the press and in her release of medical information. She has maintained that her health is in good condition and has dismissed calls for further transparency from her gubernatorial opponents as "publicity stunts."
The initial report of Ivey's hospitalization sparked a broader discussion about the transparency of health records for individuals in public office. While some of Ivey's opponents in the Republican gubernatorial primary released their health records and letters from their physicians attesting to their good health, Ivey refused to release her health records. She questioned the motivation of her opponents in releasing their medical information, suggesting that it was an attempt to raise questions about her age rather than a genuine concern for transparency.
The controversy surrounding Ivey's hospitalization in Colorado and the subsequent dispute over the cause of her symptoms highlight the ongoing debate about the level of transparency expected from public officials, particularly those holding positions of significant responsibility, such as gubernatorial candidates. While Ivey has maintained her right to privacy and disputed claims of a cover-up by her security detail, the incident has nonetheless drawn attention to the importance of transparency and accountability in government.
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Frequently asked questions
Kay Ivey was hospitalized in Colorado in 2015 due to stroke-like symptoms. She confirmed that she was hospitalized but attributed the cause to altitude sickness. She denied having a stroke or mini-stroke.
Kay Ivey was the lieutenant governor of Alabama at the time of her hospitalization. She became governor in 2017 following the resignation of Robert Bentley. Ivey's health has been a periodic issue in Alabama's gubernatorial races, with her opponents calling for the release of her health records.
Kay Ivey was hospitalized from Friday night to Sunday during her trip to Colorado. The exact duration of her hospital stay is not known.
No, Kay Ivey did not release her health records. She dismissed calls for releasing her medical history as a "publicity stunt" and described herself as being in “great shape" and "good health."
