OAN’s James Meyers
11:15 AM – Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Virginia Democrat Representative Jennifer Wexton announced on Monday that she will not be running for a fourth term in the House of Representatives after being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.
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This comes after the Virginia Democrat announced back in April that she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but still intended to keep serving in Congress.
However, in the announcement on Monday, the 55-year-old stated that her doctors told her she is suffering from a serious case of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which she referred to as “Parkinson’s on steroids.”
“I’m heartbroken to have to give up something I have loved after so many years of serving my community,” Wexton said in a statement.
“I have made the decision not to seek re-election once my term is complete and instead spend my valued time with [husband] Andrew, our boys, and my friends and loved ones.”
Additionally, Wexton said that she has not been making much progress. According to medical experts, PSP is caused by damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain that control both body movements and thinking.
The National Institutes of Health reported that people who deal with PSP typically “develop eye problems as the condition progresses” and they also tend to “lean backwards while extending their necks.”
According to The Washington Post, Weston told her staff: “It’s not OK. It’s not OK at all. I’m going to die, which isn’t fair,” regarding her condition.
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