Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Palin was in intensive care in a hospital Monday receiving treatment for injuries after falling from a horse while riding with his family the day before.
Belen, 68, received treatment at the Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NebraskaHe underwent a medical procedure for a spleen injury he sustained when he fell from a new horse.
Doctors said Belen's prognosis was positive despite seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae, and a minor kidney injury that is expected to heal on its own. He is expected to remain in the hospital for at least another day, but his condition is stable.
The governor underwent a minor surgery called prophylactic embolization for the spleen injury. Doctors passed a wire into his arteries near his spleen and inserted coils to stop the bleeding, according to Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeon Hillman Terzian.
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Nebraska Gov. Jim Palin was in intensive care in a hospital Monday treating injuries he sustained after being thrown from a horse the day before. (Getty Images)
Terzian said Belin was in good condition during the operation for which he was anesthetized. The operation lasted less than an hour and Republican Lt. Joe Kelly acted as governor for the time being in a routine transfer of power.
The governor did not suffer any damage to his nervous system, and no signs of injury appeared in his head, neck, or spinal canal, according to Terzian.
Terzian said Belen was excited to get out of bed and actually walked laps, noting that was “very impressive.”
The doctor inside said Intensive care This is normal for people with a spleen injury similar to Belen's and those with broken ribs at his age. Terzian said the governor has a “very good prognosis.”
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Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Palin was treated at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Kenneth Ferreira/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)
“We don't expect anyone with their injuries to be able to run a marathon the next day, but we would love for him to get out of bed, show us that he can pick up small objects, that kind of thing,” Terzian said. .
Belen's doctor's biggest priority now is controlling his pain.
Terzian said there are no plans to perform further operations, although doctors have options to treat his ribs.
Belen made arrangements to work from his hospital room.
The governor's office said his injuries were serious, but not life-threatening, and could have been much worse.
Governor Belén is recovering from seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung, a minor fracture of one of his vertebrae and a minor kidney injury that is expected to heal on its own. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
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Beilein was elected governor in 2022, and ran for governor that year because former Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, was term-limited.
The governor worked as a veterinarian and owned a livestock farm before he was seventeen years old He was elected to the highest office in the country.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
