Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen is recovering from numerous injures after a weekend horseback riding accident.
Pillen, 68, suffered minor lacerations to his spleen and kidney, seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung resulting from the rib damage, and a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae. Doctors overseeing Pillen at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha say the Governor suffered no injuries to his neck, head, nervous system or additional internal organs.
The Governor underwent a coil embolization – a minimally invasive procedure to address minor bleeding from his spleen. The procedure took less than an hour and included anesthesia. During that time, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly briefly acted as Governor, pursuant to the Nebraska Constitution – a transfer of power which happens regularly when the Governor travels outside of the state.
“I’ve been very pleased with his progress overnight. He has been very, very motivated to get out of bed,” said Dr. Hillman Terzian, a trauma surgeon at Nebraska Medicine, told media during a Monday morning news conference. “He’s a doctors dream in this sense, I wish more patients were as motivated as him. He’s already been walking laps which is very impressive. When you talk to him, he’s a tough guy, and it shows with the way he’s been recovering so far.”
Dr. Terzian says Pillen is currently in UNMC’s intensive care unit, which he says is normal practice for people who have a spleen injuries to this degree, as well as people with rib fractures at Pillen’s age. The Governor is expected leave the ICU sometime Monday afternoon, and remain under supervision at UNMC for a few additional days to ensure his rib fractures do not present further complications.
“We’re optimistic and we think he has a very good prognosis,” Dr. Terzian continued.
The Governor’s Office has made arrangements for Pillen to conduct work from his hospital room.