Senator's Candid Account of Health Crisis and Recovery
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has revealed startling new details about his medical struggles in his forthcoming memoir, Unfettered, scheduled for release on Tuesday. The Democratic senator provides his first comprehensive account of the health crisis that nearly ended his 2022 campaign and his subsequent battle with severe depression.
The Stroke That Changed Everything
Just days before the Democratic primary election, Fetterman suffered a stroke that threatened both his life and political career. His wife Gisele recognised the warning signs and immediately rushed him to hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery to remove a life-threatening blood clot. Medical staff later implanted a pacemaker to manage his heart condition.
Although he survived the ordeal and won the primary election, the stroke left Fetterman with significant auditory processing difficulties. Despite these challenges, the senator continued his general election campaign against Republican candidate Mehmet Oz, pushing forward while grappling with his new health reality.
Reflecting on this period in his memoir, Fetterman writes with striking honesty: 'In hindsight, I should have quit.' He faced intense media scrutiny and personal attacks regarding his health, which contributed to the development of severe depression that would plague him for months.
The Descent Into Depression
Fetterman traces his mental health struggles to deeper psychological issues stemming from being born to teenage parents, which he says left him with persistent feelings of shame and inadequacy throughout his life. These underlying issues were dramatically exacerbated by the pressures of his campaign and health challenges.
The senator reveals the depth of his despair in one particularly poignant passage: 'Once, as I lay in bed, I asked myself, What would you do if there were a pill on the nightstand you could take and not wake up? I would have taken it.'
His mental health deteriorated significantly during the campaign, especially following a disastrous debate that drew public mockery. Fetterman became consumed by self-loathing and suicidal thoughts, despite winning the general election by five points and outperforming President Biden in most counties.
Remarkably, victory brought no relief from his psychological torment. He spent months bedridden, emotionally detached, and unable to function. By early 2023, Fetterman had become isolated, barely eating or sleeping, before finally entering Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment.
The Road to Recovery
At Walter Reed, Fetterman was diagnosed with severe depression that had further compromised his physical health. Through therapy and reading, he slowly began the difficult process of healing. A crucial turning point came when a young therapist reminded him with a simple phrase: 'Children need their daddy' – words that rekindled his will to live and reconnect with his family.
The love and encouragement from his three children ultimately brought him home after 44 days of intensive treatment. Now, in 2025, Fetterman reflects candidly on surviving both a stroke and suicidal depression while serving as a United States senator.
He also opens up for the first time about the impact his health conditions had on his wife, Gisele. 'After the stroke, I think the depression broke Gisele—as it does so many spouses trying to deal with it in a partner,' Fetterman writes.
The senator acknowledges that stigma and political criticism persist, particularly regarding his independent positions that have sometimes aligned with Republicans on issues including immigration, Israel, and government shutdowns. However, he has found strength in his family and self-acceptance.
His message to others struggling with depression is clear and powerful: recovery is slow, love is essential, and survival—however fragile—remains possible. Fetterman's memoir offers an eye-opening glimpse into the private battles faced by public figures and provides insight into the resilience required to overcome profound personal challenges.
