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Gisele Fetterman took her children on a road trip to Canada while her husband, Senator John Fetterman, receives treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Fetterman, 41, posted on social media about the trip after the senator’s staff revealed that he had checked himself into a Maryland hospital amid “severe” depression. She said she made the trip because of the media presence outside her Braddock home, following news of her husband’s treatment.
‘I’m not really sure how to navigate this journey, but I’m slowly figuring it out. 1 week ago today when the news broke, the kids had left school and the media trucks were surrounding our house,’ she said. tweeted.
“I did the first thing that came to mind…pack them in the car and drive,” she wrote, after reports her husband could spend weeks in hospital while doctors work on treatment and medication.
‘I did the first thing that came to mind’: Gisele Fetterman took the children she shares with Sen. John Fetterman on a road trip to Canada via upstate New York while her husband, Sen. John Fetterman, receives treatment for depression
She said she and the couple’s three children traveled to northern Canada, on a road trip that lasts four to five hours.
“We drove straight to…Canada (and lovely Buffalo NY) (Pro tip: always have passports ready in case you have to flee),” he continued, noting that the family discussed some of the serious issues they face.
‘We talked about a lot of hard things and how we’re all going to have to face hard things. About the need to be kind… to everyone and ourselves,’ he continued.
She also posted a video in which she calmly talks about how her son August got stuck on the zip line, filming the post while a “rescue” was being performed.
“We did some scary things, but we did them together. We ziplined over Niagara Falls and August got stuck. We talked about flexibility and the need to always have an open heart and mind,” he added.
His posts got thousands of views. She said that the children were on a break from school.
He pointed a finger at the media trucks that he said were surrounding his house.
Fetterman is receiving treatment for depression weeks after being sworn in. He continues to recover from the effects of a stroke.
Fetterman, 53, was elected in November after suffering a stroke in May.
He continued to struggle with sensory processing issues and relies on simultaneous translation software for media interviews and to fulfill his duties in the Senate.
Walter Reid was consulted earlier this month for treatment for clinical depression, according to his office.
Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson said he “has experienced depression from time to time throughout his life” but ultimately decided to seek treatment when he was examined by the Capitol doctor.
“John is getting the care he needs and will soon be back to his old self,” Jentleson said.
A senior aide told NBC it’s been hard to tell the difference between the senator’s stroke recovery and depression, and the staffer says it’s sometimes unclear if he’s “not listening to you or if he’s crippled by his depression and social anxiety”.
CNN reported Friday that Fetterman’s symptoms included weight loss and poor appetite, which led to his stay at George Washington University Hospital last week, complaining of dizziness.
President Joe Biden sent a message of support last week. ‘John, Gisele, Jill and I are thinking of his family today. Millions of people battle depression every day, often in private. Getting the care you need is brave and important. We are grateful for leading by example,’ Biden tweeted.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz, whose family has had mental health problems of its own, said he and his wife Heidi were “lifting John up in prayer.”
‘Mental illness is real and serious, and I hope you get the care you need. Regardless of which side of the political aisle you are on, please respect the family’s request for privacy from him,” Cruz asked.