From Pulmonary Embolism to Congressional Swearing-In

On what was supposed to be the day of his swearing-in ceremony, then Congressman-elect Tom Reed (R-NY), instead was a patient at The George Washington University Hospital, recovering from a pulmonary embolism.

Reed admits that he’d dismissed a recent lump and discomfort in his right calf, caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as a pulled muscle. “I thought I injured it playing basketball with my kids,” Reed said. During his campaign he’d been making long drives across the 29th Congressional District and had flown roundtrip to Florida to attend the commissioning of a Navy ship the day before his hospitalization. Finally, four clots in his leg broke free and traveled to his lungs. He was rushed to the hospital after falling ill and experiencing shortness of breath.

“If I have one message to people it is that they should not ignore the warning signs as I tried to do,” said Reed. “Take this seriously, don’t be stubborn.”

Reed spent three days in the hospital where he began a regimen of blood-thinning medication. He will continue to take the medication for several months and plans to improve his diet and lose weight. “I dodged a bullet,” Reed said. “I have to make my health a priority.”

Just hours after he was discharged from the hospital, Reed took the oath of office on the House floor on what also happened to be his 39th birthday.

Photo Caption:

Representative Tom Reed (R-NY), pictured with his wife Jean and children Will and Autumn, on the day of his official swearing-in. Just hours earlier, he was discharged from GW Hospital following treatment for a pulmonary embolism when four clots broke free in his legs and traveled to his lungs.