Rep. Lauren Boebert underwent surgery Tuesday morning after being diagnosed with a rare vascular condition, her campaign announced in a press release.
Boebert was admitted on Monday to a hospital in Loveland, where doctors identified an “acute blood clot.” She came in “after experiencing severe swelling in her upper left leg,” the release details.
Boebert is expected to make a full recovery, but here’s what we know about her health condition and what it might mean moving forward.
What Boebert’s diagnosis means
Doctors diagnosed Boebert with May-Thurner syndrome, a rare condition that blocks the flow of blood through the leg. The release notes that the exact cause of the condition is not known, but potential factors include dehydration, travel and sitting for long periods.
Women who are 20-45 years old and have had children are more likely to be diagnosed with the syndrome, the release states. Boebert is 37 and has given birth to four sons.
Part of the treatment for the condition is inserting a stent into the blocked vein to improve blood flow, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Boebert’s surgery Tuesday morning included removing the blood clot and inserting the stent.
“After taking time to rest as recommended by doctors, she is expected to make a full recovery with no significant concerns for her long-term health and no hindrance to her ability to perform her duties as a Congresswoman,” the release says.
Will Boebert be able to come to the state assembly in Pueblo?
Boebert’s surgery took place just days before Colorado Republicans are set to gather in Pueblo for the state party assembly.
Boebert’s campaign manager, Drew Sexton, said in a text message to the Chieftain Wednesday that she is still planning to attend, “but obviously there’s a wait and see component right now.”
The congresswoman from Silt was first elected to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Pueblo and the Western Slope, in November 2020. Amid a difficult re-election campaign and tumult in her personal life, including a divorce from her longtime husband Jayson, Boebert recently moved to Windsor.
She is now running in the crowded GOP primary in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, which encompasses much of the Eastern Plains and some segments of Denver suburbs such as Castle Rock.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office announced in March that Boebert qualified for the state primary ballot with more than 1,000 valid signatures over the required amount.
In the press release, Boebert thanked Dr. Rebecca Bade and the team of people who cared for her at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. She added that she is “looking forward to making a full recovery and getting back to Congress to continue fighting for Colorado.”
The release also included a statement from Bade, who said that the congresswoman is expected “to make a full recovery.”
“Patients with May-Thurner Syndrome who undergo the procedure to restore blood flow are able to live and work just as they have in the past after a brief recovery,” Bade wrote in the release.
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Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at [email protected]. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.
