ROCHESTER, Minn. - Gov. Mark Dayton says he remains hospitalized more than a month after surgery due to lung damage.
Dayton had an initial procedure at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on Oct. 12 and underwent a second surgery several days later. A spokesman for the governor said at the time he was expected to stay in the hospital for several days.
On Thursday, Dayton's office sent out a statement that said post-surgical complications had caused damage to his lungs. At his doctors' recommendation, he has stayed at Mayo for therapy to rehabilitate his lungs.
"During this time, I have been in constant contact with my Commissioners and staff. I expect to return to St. Paul in the next few days," Dayton said in the statement. "I look forward to my final weeks as Governor, continuing to serve the people of Minnesota.”
Dayton last appeared in public on Oct. 9. Oct. 11 was his last scheduled event, which was closed to the public.
The 71-year-old governor has been hampered by health problems throughout his two terms in office. He's had three back surgeries, a procedure to repair a torn hip muscle and was treated for prostate cancer last year after he fainted at his State of the State address.
Dayton leaves office early next year.
