Washington, D.C. --- Congressman-elect Tom Reed (R-Corning) remains in a Washington D.C. Hospital Monday night after being rushed there in the overnight hours. Reed said doctors are treating him for a pulmonary embolism after blood clot that worked its way through his body in recent weeks was discovered in his lung.
Reed said he is taking blood-thinners and insists he is doing just fine considering the circumstances.
Reed was elected to represent the people of New York’s 29th Congressional District, a seat that was vacated in March following the sudden resignation of Democrat Eric Massa. Reed’s victory included a win on a Special Election ballot line that allows him to be sworn into office immediately to fill the remainder of Massa’s term. Reed also won the general election, meaning he’ll serve a full two-year term beginning in January.
In a phone conversation Monday afternoon Reed said he first noticed his right leg was swelling near the end of his campaign. He hoped it would go away, but it got worse. Doctors say it culminated in the clot...lodging in his lung.
A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery due to a blood clot that traveled there from a vein in the leg.
“If I have one message to people it is that they should not ignore the warning signs as I tried to do,” Reed said while being moved from his Intensive Care Unit room at George Washington Hospital. “Take this stuff seriously, don't be stubborn.”
Reed said doctors suspect his condition developed and worsened while campaigning and in the days since the election. Reed said he’s spent a lot of time in the car or on a plane and he could sometimes detect stiffness or swelling in his leg after prolonged periods of time.
Reed is still scheduled to be sworn in at 2 p.m. Tuesday and he said he has every intention of being present for that ceremony, “even if the doctors insist I return to the hospital afterward.” If he’s not able to make that ceremony he could instead be sworn into office at a later date.
MONDAY PRESS RELEASE FROM REED'S OFFICE:
Congressman-elect Tom Reed is resting comfortably in a Washington area hospital after taking ill last night.
Reed’s wife Jean called for help after he awoke in the middle of the night feeling ill and short of breath. He was taken to a nearby hospital from the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, where he is staying in connection with orientation for freshman members of Congress. The Congressman-elect has been diagnosed with some blood clotting in his lungs and is receiving the appropriate treatment.
The Congressman-elect, who has no prior history with blood clots, is in good condition and resting comfortably. He hopes to be released from the hospital in the next day or two to be officially sworn-in to represent the constituents of New York’s 29th Congressional District.
Tom and Jean thank everyone for their kind thoughts and get well wishes. “I’m feeling good and looking forward to getting to work,” Reed said.
