John Fetterman’s wife shares sweet photos of the Democrat Senator smiling with his family at Wendy’s

John Fetterman‘s wife shared sweet photos of the senator smiling while eating dinner with his family at Wendy’s as he takes a break from depression treatment from Walter Reed. 

The Pennsylvania Democratic, 53, checked himself into Walter Reed in Maryland last month after his clinical depression became more ‘severe.’ 

Fetterman also suffered a stroke in May and his sensory problems and issues with communication have been well-documented since he was sworn in as a senator in January.

His wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, posted a sweet snap of the family surrounded by empty Wendy’s cups and fry boxes at the hospital on Friday. 

‘We can do hard things when we do them together,’ she wrote on Twitter. ‘So proud of João, the kids, and everyone who’s shared their own struggles with us in the past few weeks. It gets better.’ 

Senator John Fetterman, 53, cozied up to his wife Gisele at a Wendy’s near Walter Reed after checking himself in for clinical depression treatment last month 

Gisele Barreto Fetterman (pictured with her family) posted a sweet snap of the family surrounded by empty Wendy’s cups and fry boxes at the hospital on Friday

The mother of three also posted sticky notes attached to what appears to be a bookshelf frame showing drawings of the family and their dogs as well as precious notes from their children to their dad. Some read ‘you will get better’, ‘we love you so much’, ‘your [sic] in my heart, dad’ and ‘best dad ever’.

The mother of three also posted pictures of sticky notes attached to what appears to be a bookshelf frame, which show adorable drawings of the family and their dogs.  

Encouraging notes from his children also adorn the shelf saying ‘you will get better’, ‘we love you so much’, ‘your [sic] in my heart, dad’ and ‘best dad ever’.

‘Hey!! Dad, just to let you know I am always in your heart. Love, August,’ another read. 

In early February, the Pennsylvania senator was treated at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., for lightheadedness. Doctors ruled out another stroke at the time –  after he’d had one in May 2022 – and he was discharged. 

His Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson said he ‘has experienced depression off and on throughout his life’, but ultimately decided to seek treatment when he was examined by Dr. Brian Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress.

‘John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself,’ Jentleson added, brushing off concerns his health could impact his political future.

Last month, Fetterman was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital after feeling light-headed at a Democratic retreat and was held for two nights for observation. Doctors said he didn’t suffer a second stroke.

After returning to Congress, Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician of Congress, examined Fetterman and encouraged him to seek inpatient treatment for depression that became ‘severe in recent weeks’ according to Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s chief of staff.

Senator John Fetterman poses for his official picture with his wife, Gisele, and his three children, after being sworn into office by Vice President Kama Harris (second from the right)

Shortly after her husband checked himself in, she took her kids on a trip to Canada to avoid the ‘media circus’ 

A senior aide told NBC that it has been challenging to differentiate between the senator’s stroke recovery and the depression, with the staffer saying it’s sometimes unclear if he’s ‘not hearing you, or is he sort of crippled by his depression and social anxiety.’ 

He voluntarily admitted himself to Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland on February 16.

‘We understand the intense interest in John’s status and especially appreciate the flood of well-wishes,’ Calvello said. ‘However, as we have said, this will be a weeks-long process and while we will be sure to keep folks updated as it progresses, this is all there is to give by way of an update.’

On February 24, the senator’s wife posted on social media that she drove to Niagara Falls via Buffalo, New York with their children, Karl, Grace, and August because of the media presence outside their Braddock home, following news of her husband’s treatment.

‘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,’ she tweeted.

‘I did the first thing I could think of … pack them in the car and drive,’ she wrote after it was reported her husband could spend weeks in the hospital while doctors work on treatment and medication.

‘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,’ Gisele Fetterman continued.

She also posted a video where she calmly discussed how their son August got stuck zip lining – recording the post while a ‘rescue’ was underway.

‘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,’ she added.