Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is back home with his family after two days in a Pittsburgh hospital.Fetterman fell during a walk on Thursday, his office said. He shared a picture on social media Saturday that showed his facial injuries.In the caption with the photo, Fetterman wrote, “20 stitches later and a full recovery, I’m back home with @giselefetterman and the kids. I’m overwhelmed + profoundly grateful for all the well-wishes.” He ended with, “See you back in DC.”Fetterman’s office said the 56-year-old senator fell near his home in Braddock while taking an early morning walk on Thursday.Fetterman was taken to a hospital and it was determined that he suffered a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” which led to him feeling lightheaded, falling to the ground and hitting his face, according to the statement. He stayed in the hospital so doctors could “fine-tune his medication regimen,” the statement said.What is ventricular fibrillation?According to the Mayo Clinic, ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life‑threatening arrhythmia in which the heart’s lower chambers quiver rapidly and chaotically, preventing effective blood circulation. VF is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death.”The heart has a top and a bottom half. And the bottom chambers, which do all the pumping — that’s when you feel your pulse, it’s the bottom ventricles that are doing the pumping. Ventricular fibrillation means those bottom chambers are in a very chaotic, seizure-like electrical pattern. It’s a life-threatening rhythm when it happens,” said Dr. Joshua Cooper, director of cardiac electrophysiology at Temple University Hospital. Fetterman’s 2022 strokeFetterman suffered a serious stroke just days before the Democratic primary in May 2022. In his recently published book, “Unfettered,” the senator said he should have quit his campaign.Fetterman wrote that at the time he thought his stroke was the end of his shot at winning the Senate race and voters would not want someone who was on the mend, compared to the Republican nominee, Mehmet Oz. However, Fetterman went on to defeat Oz by more than 260,000 votes.His first term in the Senate is set to run until January 2028, and it’s unclear if Fetterman will run for reelection.Fetterman disclosed that he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and another type of abnormal heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, after he suffered the stroke on the 2022 campaign trail. Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers. Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition. The Associated Press contributed to this article.

BRADDOCK, Pa. —

Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is back home with his family after two days in a Pittsburgh hospital.

Fetterman fell during a walk on Thursday, his office said. He shared a picture on social media Saturday that showed his facial injuries.

In the caption with the photo, Fetterman wrote, “20 stitches later and a full recovery, I’m back home with @giselefetterman and the kids. I’m overwhelmed + profoundly grateful for all the well-wishes.” He ended with, “See you back in DC.”

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20 stitches later and a full recovery, I’m back home with @giselefetterman and the kids.

I’m overwhelmed + profoundly grateful for all the well-wishes.

Truly.

Grateful for @UPMC for the incredible medical care that put me back together.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

See you back in DC. pic.twitter.com/j81LXZGLBx

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) November 15, 2025

Fetterman’s office said the 56-year-old senator fell near his home in Braddock while taking an early morning walk on Thursday.

Fetterman was taken to a hospital and it was determined that he suffered a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” which led to him feeling lightheaded, falling to the ground and hitting his face, according to the statement. He stayed in the hospital so doctors could “fine-tune his medication regimen,” the statement said.

What is ventricular fibrillation?

According to the Mayo Clinic, ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life‑threatening arrhythmia in which the heart’s lower chambers quiver rapidly and chaotically, preventing effective blood circulation. VF is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death.

“The heart has a top and a bottom half. And the bottom chambers, which do all the pumping — that’s when you feel your pulse, it’s the bottom ventricles that are doing the pumping. Ventricular fibrillation means those bottom chambers are in a very chaotic, seizure-like electrical pattern. It’s a life-threatening rhythm when it happens,” said Dr. Joshua Cooper, director of cardiac electrophysiology at Temple University Hospital.

Fetterman’s 2022 stroke

Fetterman suffered a serious stroke just days before the Democratic primary in May 2022. In his recently published book, “Unfettered,” the senator said he should have quit his campaign.

Fetterman wrote that at the time he thought his stroke was the end of his shot at winning the Senate race and voters would not want someone who was on the mend, compared to the Republican nominee, Mehmet Oz. However, Fetterman went on to defeat Oz by more than 260,000 votes.

His first term in the Senate is set to run until January 2028, and it’s unclear if Fetterman will run for reelection.

Fetterman disclosed that he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and another type of abnormal heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, after he suffered the stroke on the 2022 campaign trail.

Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers.

Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.