CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
The Rev. Jesse Jackson appealed multiple times for prayer for his family Saturday as he discussed his son's medical condition, saying U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s condition is a "game-changer," and that the Mayo Clinic "is the best in the world at treating what he's dealing with."
Jackson Jr. is at Mayo Clinic for depression and "gastrointestinal issues," the famed clinic reported this week. His father spoke of the ailing congressman at a downtown news conference where Jackson, Sr. pushed for a ban on assault weapons, in the wake of the Aurora, Co. theater massacre.
Previously, the lack of communication from the congressman's office about his situation had raised eyebrows and questions, along with calls from other pols to be more forthcoming about his diagnosis and treatment.
"I can only speak as a father and not as a doctor," Jackson said. "The medical assessment at this stage has been released by the Mayo Clinic. When we found out he was struggling and not well, we immediately got him to medical care, where he's been under, now, for several weeks. He's gone to Mayo now, so we pray that the medical diagnosis and work will be successful. We also want those who appreciate his work to pray for him."
Asked whether his son's illness was related to weight-loss surgery Jackson, Jr. underwent years ago, his father said: "Oh, all that type of thing is for doctors to consider. I have no medical analysis. When my wife found that he was in a different place, she said, ‘Go to see him, quickly.'
"I went to see him, and took him to the hospital," Jackson, Sr. said. "And the doctors determined there he needed a longer-term treatment. We took him away, and then after this stage of treatment, he is now at Mayo, and we can only hope for his full recovery and the regaining of his full strength."
"There's no timetable on his recovery," Jackson added. "We hope he will fully recover. We ask people who appreciate this challenge to pray for him, and, if you will, for our family."
Asked if his son was making progress, the father said, "That's a medical assessment, you know? I'm reluctant to give a medical assessment because when I first saw him, I thought the issue was he was drained emotionally, but that was an emotional assessment by me.
"Mayo is the best in the world at treating what he's dealing with and so right now I think we should [leave] the medical diagnosis and evaluation to the doctors," Jackson, Sr. said. "Such a challenge is a game-changer, and challenges all members of a given family."
