Republican Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson was released from a hospital in Washington, D.C. after having been rushed there days earlier when he fractured four ribs in a fall.
Nasty fall
The Washington Post reported that Isakson fell and fractured his ribs in his D.C. apartment on July 16.
The 74-year-old senator was quickly transported to the George Washington University Hospital to receive treatment for the injury.
Now that he has been discharged from that hospital, Isakson will be transported back home to Marietta, Georgia and will receive continuing care at the WellStar Kennestone Hospital, where he will engage in a physical therapy program with specialized doctors.
Intensive rehabilitation ahead
A news release from the senator’s office stated that Isakson had already entered the inpatient rehabilitation program that involved an “intensive” physical therapy program that would not only aid his recovery from the fractured ribs but also help improve his overall “stamina and mobility.”
“I’m on the mend and looking forward to fully healing my fractured ribs through intensive rehabilitation,” Isakson said in the statement.
“I thank everyone who has lifted me up through prayer and well-wishes,” he added.
Complex recovery
There is one rather significant challenge standing in the way of Isakson’s speedy recovery, however, namely Parkinson’s disease, the symptoms of which could hamper his ability to participate in physical therapy, which could in turn prolong his convalescence.
The Washington Post reported that Isakson first revealed that he suffered from Parkinson’s disease in 2015, though he was actually diagnosed with the ailment two years earlier.
At that time, Isakson had noted that his condition had already caused some stiffness in his left arm and had forced him to slow the gait of his walk.
However, the news release stated that Isakson “is in good spirits and is determined to face this challenge head-on so he can return to doing what he loves: representing Georgians in the Senate.”
Long history of service
Isakson was first elected as a senator from Georgia in 2004 and was re-elected to a third term in 2016. It is unclear at this point if he intends to run for a fourth term in 2022 or will retire and allow a younger Republican to fill his seat.
The senator enjoys the unique honor of being the only Republican that currently serves as chairman of two Senate committees, the Ethics Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
He also serves on three other committees, including the Finance Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Prior to joining the Senate, Isakson served in the Georgia General Assembly and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hopefully, Sen. Isakson’s recovery will go as smoothly and as quickly as possible, and he will be able to return to his job in the near future.
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