House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-L.A.) has been upgraded from “critical” to “serious” condition after he was shot last week while practicing for Thursday’s Congressional Baseball Game, the Associated Press reported.
Following a series of surgeries, Rep. Scalise “continues to show signs of improvement,” according to a statement released by the congressman’s family through the hospital.
Scalise was transported to the hospital immediately following Wednesday’s shooting, during which gunman James T. Hodgkinson also wounded multiple congressional aides and two Capitol Hill police officers. Hodgkinson died Wednesday of injuries inflicted by Scalise’s security team.
“He is more responsive, and is speaking with his loved ones,” the Saturday statement noted. “The Scalise family greatly appreciates the outpouring of thoughts and prayers.”
Doctors said Scalise was at “immediate risk of death” when he first arrived at the hospital. The bullet had ripped through congressman’s bones and internal organs. And though his condition continues to improve with surgeries, it will be a long time before he reaches full recovery.
In an interview with The New York Times, Scalise’s three Capitol roommates, Reps. John Shimkus (R-I.L.), Erik Paulsen (R-M.N.) and Kevin Brady (R-T.X.), shared what it was like visiting their friend after the attack:
All three of his roommates visited him in the hospital, and said they were worried to learn that his injuries were more extensive than they had initially thought. The bullet tore through bones and internal organs.
“The initial report about his injury was a little Pollyannaish,” Mr. Shimkus said. “It’s going to be a tough rest of the year for us.”
The four Republican representatives share a rowhouse near Capitol Hill, which has served as a periodic crash pad since 2008. Over the years, their shared politics and love of baseball have forged a lasting bond, making them much more than colleagues.
Ahead of Thursday’s Congressional Baseball Game, Rep. Paulsen tweeted a photo of their group from 2014:
After long, tough day, still thinking of my friend @SteveScalise & his family. Roomie pic from 2014 baseball game @RepShimkus @RepKevinBrady pic.twitter.com/8b18PTYe9Z
— Rep. Erik Paulsen (@RepErikPaulsen) June 15, 2017
Life in their shared abode hasn’t been the same since Scalise was admitted Wednesday. In his absence, the majority whip, who was the gregarious night owl of the bunch, has created a noticeable gap.
“You’ve got three boring guys and one guy who’s kind of lively,” Mr. Shimkus said. “It’s been really quiet.”
In a separate tweet Thursday, Rep. Paulsen posted a photo of himself with Reps. Shimkus and Brady.
With my roomies @RepShimkus @RepKevinBrady supporting @SteveScalise at congressional baseball game & pray for his recovery. pic.twitter.com/1bPflBb1WH
— Rep. Erik Paulsen (@RepErikPaulsen) June 15, 2017
“It was bittersweet,” Brady told the Times following the bipartisan charity baseball game. “It was a great night to come together, and Steve would’ve loved every minute of it.”
In the wake of Wednesday’s shooting, Scalise’s roommates have been discussing how to prepare their home for his return.
From the Times:
Mr. Paulsen, who lives in the basement, said that he hoped Mr. Scalise would return eventually, and that the group had discussed rearranging bedrooms to make it easier on their friend, whose recovery is uncertain and is expected to be lengthy in any case.
“We’ll make any adjustments in the house that make it easy for him,” Paulsen said. “So if he needs to have accessibility downstairs, I’ll move my room in a heartbeat.”