Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge’s condition is upgraded to stable after a stroke
"Your positive thoughts and prayers mean a great deal. Thank you," family members said in a Twitter post.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is now in stable condition in a Washington-area hospital, according to an announcement by his family on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
He had been in critical condition.
Ridge, 75, suffered a stroke at his home in Bethesda, Md.,, on Wednesday. He was conscious when he arrived at the hospital emergency room. Doctors later successfully removed the blood clot that caused the stroke.
"Your positive thoughts and prayers mean a great deal. Thank you," family members said in the post.
Ridge, originally from Erie, was governor of Pennsylvania from 1995 until resigning in 2001 to be the nation’s first homeland security adviser. He became the first U.S. secretary of homeland security in 2003 and held that post until 2005.
Ridge’s family reiterated in Monday’s tweet that they are hopeful for a full recovery but recognized that Ridge “will have a long road ahead, no doubt.”