After Sen, John Fetterman was hospitalized for clinical depression at Walter Reed, a hospital in the Washington, D.C. area, his wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, fled from the United States. Why? Because, in her words, of the overwhelming amount of media attention.
Speaking about her flight from the country on Twitter, Gisele said “I am not really sure how to navigate this journey but am figuring it out slowly. 1 week ago today when the news dropped, the kids were off from school and media trucks circled our home. I did the first thing I could think of … pack them in the car and drive.”
Continuing, she then said “We drove straight into … Canada (and lovely Buffalo NY) (Pro Tip: always have passports ready just in case you have to run away ) We talked about lots of hard things and how we will all have to face hard things. About the need to be gentle … with all and with ourselves.”
And then, adding pictures of her and her kids, she said “We did some scary things but we did them together. We ziplined over Niagara Falls and August got stuck 🫠. We talked about flexibility and the need to always have an open heart and an open mind.”
Ending the Twitter thread, she then said “We also talked about how joy and fun can and must still exist, even when someone we love is in pain. And tomorrow? Who knows. Will try all over again. ❤️”
We did some scary things but we did them together. We ziplined over Niagara Falls and August got stuck 🫠. We talked about flexibility and the need to always have an open heart and an open mind. pic.twitter.com/IyuvBBXaOe
— Gisele Barreto Fetterman (@giselefetterman) February 24, 2023
So, despite supposedly fleeing from too much media attention, she described exactly what her plans were for all of the media to see…
Citizen Free Press gave a somewhat uncharitable take on her and her kids’ trip to Niagra Falls, saying “Senator John Fetterman is in Walter Reed being treated for clinical depression and his wife Gisele is ziplining with the kids at Niagara Falls.”
In their replies to that post, many people agreed. One, for example, said: “Dang it Kane, why you gotta make me sympathize with Senator Frankenweenie? His wife is truly an awful person. I wouldn’t leave my hubs side after a stroke, or put him on a national stage. Shame on her“.
Dang it Kane, why you gotta make me sympathize with Senator Frankenweenie? His wife is truly an awful person. I wouldn’t leave my hubs side after a stroke, or put him on a national stage. Shame on her
— Nancy the Neanderthal 🇺🇸 (@nan_mclellan) February 24, 2023
Others disagreed, however, saying things like “Why didn’t we visit daddy? I’m supposing the last thing a depressed daddy would need is for his freaking family to leave him alone in his darkest hours.”
Senator Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed in mid-February for depression treatment. Fetterman’s Chief of Staff, Adam Jentleson, said, at the time “While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.” Continuing, he added, “After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.”
At the time, his now-ziplining wife said “After what he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John. I’m so proud of him for asking for help and getting the care he needs.”
Featured image of Gisele Fetterman credit: By Governor Tom Wolf from Harrisburg, PA – Wolf and Lt. Gov. Fetterman Announce Pennsylvania COVID-19 Response Task Force for Health Disparity Report, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95068121
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