Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Undergoes Hip Replacement After Fall
Startling news broke on Saturday when it was revealed that one of America's octogenarian lawmakers took a tumble while abroad, sustaining an injury that required immediate hospitalization
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly fell during an official engagement with other members of Congress in Luxembourg, necessitating immediate surgery, as the New York Post reports.
Trip takes unfortunate turn
Pelosi had traveled to Europe with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. in order to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II's Battle of the Bulge.
The lawmaker, herself 84 years of age, was said to have tripped and fallen on a set of marble stairs at Luxembourg City's Grand Ducal Palace.
The congresswoman's fall appeared to have come at some point after she was photographed gripping the hand of Rep. Michael McCaul, perhaps for added stability during the event, as the Associated Press noted.
Not long after news of the mishap broke, it was revealed that Pelosi was transported to a local hospital and would likely miss the remainder of the trip's planned engagements.
A spokesperson for Pelosi did not immediately offer details of her condition but indicated that she “looks forward to returning home to the U.S. soon.”
Surgical details emerge
As the severity of Pelosi's condition began to unfold, her spokesperson, Ian Krager, issued a statement updating the situation.
“Earlier this morning, Speaker Emerita Pelosi underwent a successful hip replacement and is well on the mend,” he said.
Krager offered words of gratitude for the staff and physicians at Hospital Kirchberg in Luxembourg, where she was initially assessed, and at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where her surgery was performed.
Pelosi's spokesperson added that the longtime legislature is thankful for the outpouring of well-wishes she had received and said the is “ever determined to ensure access to quality health care for all Americans.”
In light of yet another injury-causing fall sustained by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) just days before Pelosi's accident, many Americans will again be questioning the wisdom of having such a large contingent of truly elderly lawmakers still gripping the levers of power.
