Mitch McConnell Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Health === In February 2003, McConnell underwent a triple heart bypass surgery in relation to blocked arteries, at the [[National Naval Medical Center]] in [[Bethesda, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite news |date=February 3, 2003 |title=McConnell undergoes heart surgery |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/03/mcconnell.heart/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101001950/https://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/03/mcconnell.heart/index.html |archive-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref> In August 2019, McConnell suffered a fall at his Louisville home; he fractured his shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2023 |title=US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell treated for concussion |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64898451 |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en-AU |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309060157/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64898451 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2023, he was hospitalized for five days after a fall; he was treated for a [[concussion]] and a minor rib fracture,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Sylvia |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Sen. Mitch McConnell's health issues spotlight Kentucky's succession process |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1194115265/sen-mitch-mcconnells-health-issues-spotlights-kentuckys-succession-process |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=NPR |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830233343/https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1194115265/sen-mitch-mcconnells-health-issues-spotlights-kentuckys-succession-process |url-status=live }}</ref> and did not return to the Senate for almost six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keck |first=Matthew |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Mitch McConnell returns to Senate floor day after freezing during news conference |url=https://www.wlky.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-health-condition-update-freeze/44665233 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=WLKY |language=en |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831000712/https://www.wlky.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-health-condition-update-freeze/44665233 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2023, he fell while disembarking from a plane at [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Haake |first1=Garrett |last2=Kapur |first2=Sahil |date=July 26, 2023 |title=McConnell fell recently at Washington, D.C.-area airport prior to Wednesday's freeze-up |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-fell-recently-dc-airport-prior-wednesdays-freeze-rcna96568 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831000228/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-fell-recently-dc-airport-prior-wednesdays-freeze-rcna96568 |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 26, 2023, McConnell prompted worldwide media reports when he froze, unspeaking, for around 20 seconds while addressing a press conference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell freezes mid-sentence and stares vacantly for around 20 seconds during press conference |url=https://news.sky.com/story/senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-freezes-mid-sentence-and-stares-vacantly-for-around-20-seconds-during-press-conference-12928264 |access-date=July 28, 2023 |date=July 27, 2023 |website=[[Sky News]] |first=Samuel |last=Osborne |language=en-UK |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727111031/https://news.sky.com/story/senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-freezes-mid-sentence-and-stares-vacantly-for-around-20-seconds-during-press-conference-12928264 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was escorted away by aides, but later returned and said he was "fine".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mitch McConnell says he's 'fine' after freezing during news conference|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/politics/mitch-mcconnell-freezes-press-conference/index.html|access-date=July 26, 2023|date=July 26, 2023|website=[[CNN]]|first1=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Morgan|last2=Rimmer|language=en-AU|archive-date=July 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726185938/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/politics/mitch-mcconnell-freezes-press-conference/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days after the incident, his spokespersons said that McConnell would continue in his leadership role; he is the institution's longest-serving party leader.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Sahil|last1=Kapur|first2=Rebecca|last2=Shabad|date=July 29, 2023|title=Mitch McConnell vows to serve his full term as Republican leader|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitch-mcconnell-vows-serve-full-term-republican-leader-rcna96864|work=NBC News|access-date=August 4, 2023|archive-date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803203835/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitch-mcconnell-vows-serve-full-term-republican-leader-rcna96864|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 30, 2023, he again froze during a press conference in [[Covington, Kentucky]] and was eventually led away by staff.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again at a Kentucky event|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-mitch-mcconnell-appears-freeze-kentucky-event-rcna102583|work=NBC News|first=Frank|last=Thorp V.|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=August 30, 2023|archive-date=August 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830172427/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-mitch-mcconnell-appears-freeze-kentucky-event-rcna102583|url-status=live}}</ref> A day later, McConnell released a letter from the attending physician of Congress that said that he was "medically clear" to continue his schedule as planned;<ref name="2023medical letter">{{cite tweet |user=burgessev |first=Burgess |last=Everett |number=1697315090582671825 |title=Capitol physician provides note on McConnell medically clearing him to continue his duties after yesterdays episode. Physician spoke to McConnell's neurology team and McConnell, per this note| archiveurl = https://archive.today/20240131162328/https://twitter.com/burgessev/status/1697315090582671825 | archivedate = 2024-01-31 }} </ref> the letter said that the physician had talked to McConnell and "conferred with his neurology team", but did not indicate that he had physically examined McConnell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/05/politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-latest/index.html|title=Capitol Hill doctor: No evidence McConnell has seizure disorder or experienced stroke when freezing before cameras|work=CNN|first1=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Kristin|last2=Wilson|first3=Annie|last3=Grayer|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=October 1, 2023|archive-date=September 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930003903/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/05/politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-latest/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page