The campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) revealed on Friday, as the 78-year-old was discharged from a Las Vegas hospital, that he had suffered a heart attack earlier in the week.
Sanders canceled all campaign events on Tuesday after experiencing chest pains and being rushed to the hospital. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the senator underwent surgery “to treat a blocked artery, having two stents inserted to prop open the artery,” Reuters reported.
Sanders’ treating physicians, Arturo Marchand Jr. and Arjun Gururaj, said in a statement:
After presenting to an outside facility with chest pain, Sen. Sanders was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction. He was immediately transferred to Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center. The Senator was stable upon arrival and taken immediately to the cardiac catheterization laboratory, at which time two stents were placed in a blocked coronary artery in a timely fashion. All other arteries were normal. His hospital course was uneventful with good expected progress. He was discharged with instructions to follow up with his personal physician.
While he was in the hospital, Sanders tweeted: “Thanks for all the well wishes. I’m feeling good. I’m fortunate to have good health care and great doctors and nurses helping me to recover. None of us know when a medical emergency might affect us. And no one should fear going bankrupt if it occurs. Medicare for All!”
Thanks for all the well wishes. I’m feeling good. I’m fortunate to have good health care and great doctors and nurses helping me to recover.
None of us know when a medical emergency might affect us. And no one should fear going bankrupt if it occurs. Medicare for All!
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 2, 2019
Upon his release from the hospital, Sanders tweeted: “I want to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center for the excellent care that they provided. After two and a half days in the hospital, I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work.”
I want to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center for the excellent care that they provided. After two and a half days in the hospital, I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work. pic.twitter.com/HjBc9LPjo4
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 4, 2019
Sanders is a part of the emerging far-left wing that has taken over the Democrat Party. Sanders, followed closely by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), outraised all of the other 2020 Democrat presidential candidates, bringing in $25.3 million during the third quarter while Warren brought in $24.6 million.
“There has been a narrative that Warren is on the rise and passing by Sanders, so Sanders’ number was important in showing he retains a strong grassroots coalition behind him – and that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon,” NPR reported. “Warren’s number also shows that her campaign is going strong, as she gears up for the fall and the first votes being cast in Iowa. National polls have shown her catching up to former Vice President Joe Biden and leading him narrowly in Iowa.”
Sanders’ wife, Jane, said on Thursday that he will be back in time for the October Democratic presidential debate.
“Bernie is up and about. Yesterday, he spent much of the day talking with staff about policies, cracking jokes with the nurses and doctors, and speaking with his family on the phone. His doctors are pleased with his progress, and there has been no need for any additional procedures,” Jane Sanders said in a statement. “We expect Bernie will be discharged and on a plane back to Burlington before the end of the weekend. He’ll take a few days to rest, but he’s ready to get back out there and is looking forward to the October debate.”