WASHINGTON — The White House said this afternoon that first lady Melania Trump is recovering from a procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and “will likely remain there for the duration of the week.”
Trump “underwent an embolization procedure to treat a benign kidney condition,” the statement said. “The procedure was successful and there were no complications.”
Embolization “places medications or synthetic materials called embolic agents through a catheter into a blood vessel to block blood flow to an area of the body.”
Renal embolization can be indicated to cut off blood supply to a tumor, include benign angiomyolipoma, which can grow to the point that kidney function is impaired. The procedure is also used for pre-transplant kidneys, patients with end-stage renal disease and uncontrolled hypertension, and in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations.
The White House did not elaborate on the first lady’s condition.
A week ago, Trump launched her “Be Best” campaign to encourage adults to “choose their words wisely and speak with respect and compassion” on social media and help children through bullying situations.
Speaking in the Rose Garden, Trump said it “concerns” her “that in today’s fast-paced and ever-connected world, children can be less prepared to express or manage their emotions, and oftentimes turn to forms of destructive or addictive behavior such as bullying, drug addiction, or even suicide.”
“I feel strongly that as adults, we can and should be best at educating our children about the importance of a healthy and balanced life,” she said.
The White House said today that “the first lady looks forward to a full recovery so she can continue her work on behalf of children everywhere.”
Join the conversation as a VIP Member