Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton will not seek reelection after receiving diagnosis update

Source: WTOP

Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton said she will not seek reelection and will be retiring after receiving an update on her health. While receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease, Wexton received a modified diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. PSP is a form of atypical parkinsonian syndrome, also known as a Parkinson-plus disorder.

After receiving this diagnosis, the congresswoman said that she will be retiring after the end of her term. “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. “But taking into consideration the prognosis for my health over the coming years, I have made the decision not to seek reelection once my term is complete and instead spend my valued time with Andrew, our boys, and my friends and loved ones.”

Wexton received the new diagnosis after feeling like she wasn’t responding well to treatment and noticing that the women in her Parkinson’s support group were having a different experience. “I sought out additional medical opinions and testing, and my doctors modified my diagnosis to progressive supranuclear palsy – a kind of ‘Parkinson’s on steroids,'” she said.

PSP is a rare neurological disorder that affects body movements, walking and balance, and eye movements, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Read more: https://wtop.com/virginia/2023/09/virginia-rep-jennifer-wexton-will-not-seek-reelection-after-receiving-diagnosis-update/

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So heartbreaking. Wishing her all the best and hoping for a treatment that will help with her quality of life.