PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – USA Representative Dwight Evans of Philadelphia is recovering at an inpatient rehabilitation center after suffering a minor stroke, the congressman said in a news release Thursday.
Evans, 70, said he was diagnosed this week, adding that he hadn’t realized it was happening for several days. He said he has problems with one of his legs, which could affect his walking “but not my ability to serve the people of Philadelphia in the long term.”
The Democratic congressman said he expects to be at the rehabilitation center for another week, followed by outpatient therapy. He said he wanted to make the diagnosis public to help raise awareness about stroke.
In the coming months, I want to help educate people and remove the stigma that is sometimes associated with a stroke – many people are able to recover and get on with their lives and their work,” Evans said in a press release.
Evans, who is that? serving his fourth termsaid he expects to be able to vote again in Washington DC in six weeks.
The Pennsylvania State Representative represents the Commonwealth’s 3rd Congressional District which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia.
Evans was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and served for 36 years. During his tenure, he rose to chairman of the Appropriations Committee before winning his current seat, previously held by convicted ex-Rep. Chaka Fattah.
