Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell was being handled Thursday for mind harm and is anticipated to stay within the hospital for “a few days” after he tripped and fell at a lodge dinner the evening earlier than, his spokesman mentioned.
Docs mentioned McConnell had a light traumatic mind damage (MTBI) — additionally referred to as a concussion, a critical damage for contemplating the aged assertion’s age.
McConnell, 81, was at a Wednesday night dinner after a reception for the Senate Management Fund, a marketing campaign committee aligned with him, when he tripped and fell. The occasions had been on the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, previously the Trump Worldwide Resort.
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Spokesman David Popp mentioned the Kentucky senator is being handled for a concussion and “is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes.”
Concussions may be critical accidents and take time for restoration. Even a single incident of concussion can restrict an individual’s skills as they recuperate. McConnell’s workplace didn’t present extra element on the extent of mind harm McConnell suffered or how lengthy he could also be absent from the Senate.
Up to now, McConnell has missed work because of different accidents attributable to falling. In 2019, he tripped and fell at his dwelling in Kentucky, struggling a shoulder fracture that required surgical procedure. The Senate had simply began a summer time recess, and he labored from dwelling for some weeks as he recovered.
First elected in 1984, McConnell in January turned the longest-serving Senate chief when the brand new Congress convened, breaking the earlier file of 16 years.
In his memoir, McConnell mentioned his childhood battle with polio, which can lead to mobility issues late in life even after an obvious restoration. Older adults also can endure from different illnesses related to low mobility.
Colleagues have been wishing McConnell nicely throughout his restoration.
“Senator McConnell made it through polio as a child and I know he will get through this,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said in a tweet.
Getting back from a visit to Philadelphia Thursday night, President Joe Biden instructed reporters on the White Home that he’d spoken with McConnell’s household.
“I think he’s gonna be all right,” Biden mentioned of his former Senate colleague.
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Senators leaving a Republican convention lunch on Thursday mentioned that McConnell’s workers had given them an replace on his situation. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney mentioned they had been instructed that “he’s doing well, feels fine, but had a concussion.”
Romney predicted that McConnell would keep within the hospital over the weekend and return to the Senate subsequent week.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, mentioned he was on the occasion Wednesday night and McConnell had delivered remarks “as usual.”
“Evidently it happened later in the evening,” mentioned Thune, who had moved on to a different reception underway on the lodge and didn’t see McConnell fall.
Not one of the senators had talked to McConnell, although a number of mentioned they’d reached out to want him nicely. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley mentioned he had despatched a notice however that it was his understanding that McConnell was not taking calls.
“We just need to make sure that the leader does what he’s told,” mentioned Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., mentioned on the Senate ground Thursday morning that he had referred to as McConnell however spoke along with his workers “to extend my prayers and well wishes.”
The Horn editorial crew and the Related Press contributed to this text.
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