Sen. Boozman returns home from hospital; monitors storm damage

Less than a week after an emergency surgery to fix an aortic dissection, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., has returned home and has instructed his staff to work to help with tornado damage recovery in central Arkansas.

Boozman was released from the hospital Sunday night and is under doctor’s orders to rest as he regains his strength.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones in this devastation. While Arkansans are all too familiar with the destruction that Mother Nature can leave behind, it never gets easier. Arkansans have always come together in the most difficult times to help neighbors in need. It’s clear that commitment continues today,” Boozman said in the statement.

Boozman’s April 22 surgery was performed at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, and medical staff said the Senator made good progress.

“Senator Boozman is doing amazingly well after surgery to replace his ascending aorta. One reason he is doing so well is because of his great physical condition. At this time, we expect the Senator to have a full recovery. He should be able to return to his full duties without any restrictions in the future,” Dr. E.J. Chauvin, the Mercy Cardiac & Thoracic surgeon, who performed the surgery, said in a statement issued April 25.
 
Boozman was moved from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a private recovery room on April 24. The statement said Boozman is able to visit with family “for long stretches of the day” and is walking frequently with help from medical staffers.

As to the storm damage, Boozman said he is receiving regular updates from his staff about search and rescue efforts.

“I will work with the governor’s office, the congressional delegation and FEMA Administrator Fugate to make sure that Arkansans get the resources they need to respond, rebuild and recover. We will help in any way we can,” he said.

Arkansans can reach Boozman’s Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-4843 and the Little Rock office at (501) 372-7153.