Senator Kenneth Gittens Photo Credit: V.I. LEGISLATURE
ST. CROIX — Senator Kenneth Gittens Sunday afternoon thanked the community for sending well wishes his way following a Consortium report that the senator was hospitalized at the Juan F. Luis Hospital since Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Gittens also asked for patience as the community seeks further details on his condition. “I was hoping I would have more information to share before I made a public statement,” Mr. Gittens said. “However, I deeply appreciate the concern and thank all who have reached out to me. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond directly at this time and beg your indulgence. I would also like to thank Acute Alternative Urgent Care and the staff at JFL for the care I’m receiving. Keep praying for me."
Speaking to the Consortium Saturday night, Mr. Gittens confirmed that what he thought was gas pain were actually blood clots affecting multiple areas of his body, including a large blood clot in his lungs. The senator had sent out a text message to members of the Gentlemen Jones, a nonprofit organization that he is a part of, about his condition. On Sunday, the senator revealed blood clots were also affecting one of his legs.
Mr. Gittens said he has been in contact with physicians at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, a facility he has a relationship with. Mr. Gittens said he may seek further attention outside the territory in the coming days, however he was stable at JFL at the moment.
Governor Albert Bryan told the Consortium that he learned of the hospitalization Saturday.
A blood clot blocks the normal flow of blood. This blockage can cause serious problems, like damage to the lungs and low oxygen levels in the human body's blood. The lack of oxygen can harm other organs in the body, too. If the clot is big or the artery is clogged by many smaller clots, a pulmonary embolism can be deadly, according to WebMD.
