Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is recovering from multiple injuries at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha after being bucked off a new horse over the weekend.Doctors addressed the media Monday morning at the Durham Outpatient Center, providing updates on the governor's condition.They said Pillen is recovering from a spleen injury, a minor kidney injury, a minor fracture on a vertebrae on his spine and several rib fractures he sustained Sunday. In a statement, the governor's office said Pillen was horseback riding with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter near Columbus when he fell.Doctors said the governor was sedated for about an hour during a minimally invasive procedure called coil embolization to stop the minor bleeding in his spleen. They said the bleeding has stopped.They also called the injuries to his kidney and spine "minor" and were confident those would resolve on their own.The doctors said they did not find any damage to his nervous system, brain or spinal canal, which is a concern following a fall.Doctors added Pillen fractured seven ribs on his left side, and recovery can be painful.They added he was a "tough guy" and "very motivated" to get out of bed and was already walking around Monday morning.Doctors expect Pillen to remain in the hospital for at least another day, though his office confirmed he was released from the ICU Monday afternoon. He will continue his recovery in a "step-down unit."In the statement, the governor's office added, "Gov. Pillen, First Lady Suzanne and their family are enormously grateful to the teams at Nebraska Medicine, Columbus Community Hospital, and the EMS professionals who transported him after the accident. The Governor looks forward to returning to his office soon after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans."
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is recovering from multiple injuries at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha after being bucked off a new horse over the weekend.
Doctors addressed the media Monday morning at the Durham Outpatient Center, providing updates on the governor's condition.
They said Pillen is recovering from a spleen injury, a minor kidney injury, a minor fracture on a vertebrae on his spine and several rib fractures he sustained Sunday. In a statement, the governor's office said Pillen was horseback riding with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter near Columbus when he fell.
Doctors said the governor was sedated for about an hour during a minimally invasive procedure called coil embolization to stop the minor bleeding in his spleen. They said the bleeding has stopped.
They also called the injuries to his kidney and spine "minor" and were confident those would resolve on their own.
The doctors said they did not find any damage to his nervous system, brain or spinal canal, which is a concern following a fall.
Doctors added Pillen fractured seven ribs on his left side, and recovery can be painful.
They added he was a "tough guy" and "very motivated" to get out of bed and was already walking around Monday morning.
Doctors expect Pillen to remain in the hospital for at least another day, though his office confirmed he was released from the ICU Monday afternoon. He will continue his recovery in a "step-down unit."
In the statement, the governor's office added, "Gov. Pillen, First Lady Suzanne and their family are enormously grateful to the teams at Nebraska Medicine, Columbus Community Hospital, and the EMS professionals who transported him after the accident. The Governor looks forward to returning to his office soon after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans."