Fetterman opens up about near-death stroke on Hannity podcast
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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., described his brush with death on Fox News’ new podcast “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” saying it led him to let go of negativity and open himself to new conversations in an increasingly polarized political environment.
Fetterman survived a serious stroke during the 2022 Senate campaign. He told host Sean Hannity that the incident caused his heart to stop.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks to the media at the U.S. Capitol following a vote on DHS funding in the U.S. Senate on March 5 in Washington, DC. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
“It was kind of touch and go back then. And thankfully I made a full recovery.”
The life-threatening stroke left Fetterman with an auditory processing disorder that hindered his ability to understand and transmit speech. To get around this problem, the senator uses a captioning device that transcribes what is said and allows him to read his speech in real time.
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Similar technology has also been installed in his office and in the Senate chamber, where captions were written for him by professional broadcast captioners to help him perform his congressional duties.
Supporters of Pennsylvania Democratic Senatorial candidate John Fetterman react at a watch party in Pittsburgh during the midterm elections on November 8, 2022. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
Fetterman said the near-death experience sparked a sense of gratitude.
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“This paralysis could have ended me or taken away my ability to speak, move, or any other ability. So… I’m so grateful to be back here.”
Despite the heated nature of modern politics, Fetterman said he refuses to become mired in pessimism.
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“That’s why I don’t hold on to any negativity… and that’s where I’m at. I’m always happy to chat with people. That’s why, as things get more and more heated and polarized, it looks like I’m not going to be a part of it.”
The full interview will be featured in “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” which will be released on YouTube and Spotify on Tuesday.
Fox News Digital’s Patrick Hauf and Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.
