Tessa Quinn
On June 14, 2017, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center after being shot by a gunman during a practice session for the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity. The bullet entered Scalise's left hip and travelled across his pelvis, causing severe damage to his internal organs, bones, and blood vessels. He underwent multiple surgeries and battled infections during his hospital stay. In 2023, Scalise was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer, for which he underwent chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Hospitalization | June 14, 2017 |
| Reason | Gunshot wound to the hip |
| Hospital | MedStar Washington Hospital Center |
| Condition | Critical, later upgraded to serious |
| Treatment | Multiple surgeries, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplant |
| Length of Stay | Several weeks, followed by an eight-week rehabilitation stay |
| Current Status | Recovering under the supervision of his medical team |
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What You'll Learn
- Steve Scalise was shot in the hip during a baseball practice session
- The bullet caused severe damage to his internal organs, bones, and blood vessels
- He went into shock and suffered massive blood loss, requiring multiple surgeries
- Scalise was admitted to the intensive care unit and was in critical condition
- He later received treatment for multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer
Steve Scalise was shot in the hip during a baseball practice session
On June 14, 2017, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise was shot in the hip during a baseball practice session in Alexandria, Virginia. The shooting happened at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, where Scalise and other legislators were practising for the upcoming annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity.
Scalise, who was 51 at the time, was fielding balls at second base when he was hit in the left hip by a rifle shot. The bullet travelled across his pelvis, causing severe damage to his internal organs, fracturing bones, and resulting in severe blood loss. According to doctors, the wound to the pelvic region, which is densely packed with blood vessels, organs, and other structures, was extremely dangerous and life-threatening.
Upon arrival at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Scalise was in critical condition and in "imminent risk of death". He underwent emergency surgery and multiple additional operations to address his internal injuries, broken bones, and severe blood loss. Scalise remained in the hospital for an extended period and then underwent rehabilitation and physical therapy.
In the aftermath of the shooting, well-wishers gathered at the hospital, and Scalise's family and friends rallied around him. Despite the severity of his injuries, Scalise's condition gradually improved, and he was eventually able to return to the Capitol, continuing his work as House Majority Whip.
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The bullet caused severe damage to his internal organs, bones, and blood vessels
On June 14, 2017, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise was practicing for an upcoming Congressional Baseball Game for Charity in Alexandria, Virginia, when a gunman opened fire, shooting him in the left hip. Although he was not hit in the head or chest, the bullet caused severe damage to his internal organs, bones, and blood vessels as it travelled across his pelvis.
The pelvic region is densely packed with blood vessels, organs, and other structures, making a single penetrating wound extremely dangerous. The iliac blood vessels, which include major arteries branching off the aorta (the main route for oxygenated blood), are located in this area. Wounds to these vessels can cause rapid and severe blood loss, triggering a cascade of problems for surgeons attempting to save a patient's life.
Scalise went into shock due to massive blood loss and was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he was listed in critical condition and faced imminent risk of death. He underwent multiple surgeries to address his internal injuries and broken bones, including a broken bone in his leg. Doctors reported that he would require additional operations and would be in the hospital for an extended period.
The complexity of Scalise's injuries and the location of the gunshot wound in the pelvic region highlight the severe damage inflicted on his internal organs, bones, and blood vessels. The bullet's trajectory across his pelvis resulted in fractured bones, injured organs, and severe bleeding. The round fragmented as it travelled, exacerbating the damage.
Scalise's condition gradually improved, and he was eventually released from the MedStar Washington Hospital Center one month after the shooting. He was then admitted to MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital for an eight-week stay to continue his recovery.
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He went into shock and suffered massive blood loss, requiring multiple surgeries
On June 14, 2017, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise was practising for the upcoming Congressional Baseball Game for Charity in Alexandria, Virginia. During the practice, a gunman opened fire, and Scalise was shot in the hip. The bullet travelled across his pelvis, causing severe damage to his internal organs and resulting in massive blood loss.
As a result of the blood loss, Scalise went into shock and was in "imminent risk of death" when he arrived at MedStar Washington Hospital Centre via helicopter. He immediately underwent emergency surgery and received multiple units of blood via transfusion. Despite the life-threatening nature of his injuries, Scalise survived and underwent multiple additional surgeries during his hospital stay.
The pelvic region is densely packed with blood vessels, organs, and other structures, making even a single penetrating wound extremely dangerous. The iliac blood vessels, which include major arteries branching off the aorta, are particularly vulnerable to injuries that can cause rapid and severe blood loss. In the case of Scalise, the bullet damaged bones, organs, and blood vessels, leading to life-threatening blood loss and requiring multiple surgeries to address.
Scalise's condition gradually improved during his hospitalisation, and he was eventually released from the MedStar Washington Hospital Center one month after the shooting. He was then immediately admitted to MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital for an eight-week stay to continue his recovery.
The complex nature of Scalise's injuries and the subsequent surgeries and rehabilitation highlight the severe consequences of gun violence. While the initial impact of a bullet wound may seem isolated, the resulting damage to vital structures in the body can lead to life-threatening complications and prolonged recovery processes.
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Scalise was admitted to the intensive care unit and was in critical condition
On June 14, 2017, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise was practising for an upcoming Congressional Baseball Game for Charity in Alexandria, Virginia. During the practice, a gunman opened fire on the congressman and other legislators. Scalise was shot in the left hip, and the bullet travelled across his pelvis, causing severe damage to his internal organs, bones, and blood vessels.
Scalise was immediately airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Due to the severity of his injuries and massive blood loss, he went into shock and was in "imminent risk of death" upon his arrival at the hospital. As a result, Scalise was admitted to the intensive care unit and was listed in critical condition.
In the days following the shooting, Scalise underwent multiple surgeries to address his internal injuries and a broken bone in his leg. Despite facing life-threatening complications, his condition gradually improved, and he was able to speak and interact with his loved ones. Doctors remained cautiously optimistic about his prognosis, emphasising that his condition was still critical but that the risk of death had decreased.
The complex nature of Scalise's injuries, particularly in the pelvic region, which is densely packed with vital structures, underscored the seriousness of his condition. The damage to blood vessels in the area, including major arteries branching off the aorta, resulted in severe blood loss and posed significant challenges for the medical team. The hospital administrator noted that Scalise's condition had shown encouraging improvement within the last 36 hours, providing a glimmer of hope during this critical phase of his treatment.
Scalise's road to recovery was expected to be long, and doctors anticipated that he would require additional operations to address his abdominal injuries and broken bones. The extent of his injuries and the subsequent surgeries meant that Scalise would be facing a lengthy hospital stay, followed by a period of rehabilitation and physical therapy.
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He later received treatment for multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer
In August 2023, Steve Scalise, the House Majority Leader and Representative for Louisiana's 1st Congressional District, announced that he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer. Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in adults and affects more men than women. It is typically diagnosed at the age of 65, though Scalise was 57 at the time of his diagnosis.
Scalise said he had undergone blood work after "a few days of not feeling like [him]self". The tests revealed some irregularities, and after further examinations, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The cancer is described as "a cancer of our immune system" by Dr Laura Finn, a hematologist for Ochsner Health System. Some of the symptoms of multiple myeloma include renal issues, which can cause fatigue.
In a statement, Scalise's office said that he had successfully completed induction chemotherapy and was eligible for an autologous stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplants are a typical treatment for multiple myeloma, as they help to reactivate the patient's immune system. As of January 2024, Scalise was undergoing the transplant process and was expected to return to Washington the following month.
Scalise has stated that he plans to continue working as majority leader and serving Louisiana's first congressional district while undergoing treatment. He has previously overcome significant health challenges, including a shooting in 2017 that left him with serious injuries and required multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery process.
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Frequently asked questions
Steve Scalise was hospitalised after sustaining a gunshot wound to the hip during a congressional baseball practice session.
On June 14, 2017, a gunman opened fire during a baseball practice session involving members of Congress. Scalise, who was present at the practice session, was shot in the hip.
The bullet that struck Scalise travelled across his pelvis, causing severe damage to his internal organs and bones, and resulting in massive blood loss.
Yes, Scalise underwent multiple surgeries to address his internal injuries and broken bones. He also received blood transfusions and was placed in intensive care.
Yes, Scalise's condition improved during his hospitalisation. He was eventually discharged and admitted to a rehabilitation facility for further recovery and physical therapy.
