Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) introduced Monday that she is not going to be looking for re-election after being identified with a uncommon, deadly neurological dysfunction.
Wexton sat down with the Washington Post for an unique 90-minute interview Saturday (which was printed Monday) and revealed that she has progressive supra nuclear palsy (PSP). During the interview, Wexton detailed the unbelievable struggling she was enduring.
It’s exhausting for me to communicate in a method that folks can perceive and that they need to hear to … I hate the way in which I sound now. I at all times have to take into consideration slowing down and enunciating.
People I do know know I’ve struggled for a very long time. I’ll give you the option to chill out and benefit from the time I’ve left and the time I’ve left in Congress.
At one level throughout the interview, Wexton turned to her chief of employees and longtime confidante, Abigail Carter, and tried to reassure her earlier than revealing her actual prognosis: sure dying.
It’s okay. It’s not okay. It’s not okay in any respect … I’m going to die, which isn’t truthful.
Wexton had beforehand been identified with Parkinson’s Disease in April on World Parkinson’s Day. As the Post stories, she had deliberate to stay in Congress.
But then Wexton observed her signs weren’t bettering with treatment and sought second and third opinions. In June, she acquired the actual reason behind her illnesses.
She revealed to the Post that she requested her physician if she might nonetheless run for re-election after being identified with PSP. Her physician replied, “why would you want to?”
Wexton wrote a textual content to the Post Saturday night that this induced her considering to change:
But what turned clear was that not solely would I not give you the option to deal with the pains of campaigning in a tricky district (hours of every day name time! Campaign rallies! Trackers and assault adverts!) even when I might it could have actually killed me. And my life is unquestionably too brief for that!
Wexton additionally launched a press release Monday to the general public explaining her choice:
I’ve at all times believed that honesty is a very powerful worth in public service, so I would like to be sincere with you now — this new prognosis is a tricky one. There isn’t any ‘getting better’ with PSP. I’ll proceed therapy choices to handle my signs, however they don’t work as properly with my situation as they do for Parkinson’s.”
I’m heartbroken to have to surrender one thing I’ve liked after so a few years of serving my group. But considering the prognosis for my well being over the approaching years, I’ve made the choice not to search reelection as soon as my time period is full and as an alternative spend my valued time with Andrew, our boys, and my mates and family members.
An replace on my well being and my plans for serving #VA10 in Congress. pic.twitter.com/815hxhtRBv
— Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) September 18, 2023
