Nebraska First Lady Suzanne Pillen, left, and Gov. Jim Pillen pose on Friday before leaving the Nebraska Medical Center. (Courtesy of Taylor Wilson of Nebraska Medicine)
OMAHA — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s elective surgery to repair his seven broken ribs with metal plating should speed his recovery and help him better manage the pain.
The Christmas Day procedure could help him better handle heading home from the hospital Friday. Work looms, with the Legislature back in session starting Jan. 8.
Pillen’s doctors updated the public on his condition Friday at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where the governor, 68, has stayed overnight since being bucked off a horse Sunday.
Two trauma surgeons, Dr. Charity Evans and Dr. Zach Bauman, said the governor has recovered well. Evans said he has been “an ideal patient, very much eager and anxious to recover.”
“He is looking forward to heading home today,” Evans said.
Bauman said the governor had been in pain before having the nine metal plates inserted, with a lot of clicking and popping while breathing. He is breathing and moving better since surgery.