State Representative Vanessa Summers returns to session after her own personal COVID-19 battle

INDIANAPOLIS – State Representative Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) yesterday returned for the 2021 Legislative Session after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in December 2020.

Summers issued the following statement:

“On what should have been the first day of my 29th legislative session, I woke up in the hospital, struggling to breathe due to COVID-19.

“I was hospitalized for 18 days, with 11 of those days spent in the ICU, being treated for hypoxia. I was literally unable to breathe and get enough oxygen to my body to function. I was put on 90 percent oxygen. To put this in perspective, I couldn't be released from the hospital until I was down to 4 percent.

“COVID-19 is real. It has killed almost 10,000 Hoosiers. If you don't want to go through what I went through, take this virus seriously. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Exercise. Work on your health daily, don't just wait until you get sick. 

“I still have a long road ahead of me – I'll be bringing my oxygen to session and committee meetings. I'm hitting the ground running, trying to get hearings for my bills before the committee report deadline in two weeks. I am grateful to Speaker Huston for allowing me a point of personal privilege yesterday. I feel supported and look forward to working with my colleagues to improve the lives of all Hoosiers.”