By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
MONTGOMERY — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey underwent a minor medical procedure Tuesday after experiencing discomfort over the past several weeks, according to a statement from her office.
Ivey had been dealing with discomfort on her left side for about three weeks and recently began feeling slightly short of breath. She saw her primary care physician on Tuesday, who recommended further evaluation by a surgeon at Baptist Medical Center South. At the hospital, it was determined that fluid had accumulated and was pressing against her lung.
The governor had appeared publicly as recently as March 30 during a speech before the Alabama Legislature, where she generally appeared well but at times seemed slightly short of breath.
While the condition was not considered an emergency, Ivey opted to undergo the procedure promptly to return to full health as she hopes to swiftly return to her duties during the final days of the 2026 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature.
This is not the first time, however, that Ivey has been hospitalized during her tenure as governor. In September 2019, Ivey underwent radiation for what she described as “a tiny, isolated malignancy on my lung.” She underwent a series of radiation treatments and was eventually medically cleared of lung cancer.
The procedure to remove the fluid was completed on Tuesday afternoon. According to her office, “Out of an abundance of caution, the governor will remain at Baptist South for monitoring over the next several days.”
Following the news of Ivey’s hospitalization, she received an outpouring of support and well-wishes from the public and elected officials. So far, Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, as well as Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Alabama State Senator Donnie Chesteen, who serves the 29th District, which includes portions of Dale, Houston, and Geneva Counties, have all expressed well-wishes and hopes for Ivey to have a speedy recovery. At age 81, Ivey is the oldest sitting governor in American and Alabama history.
Ivey remains in good spirits and expressed confidence in making a full and speedy recovery, her staff reported.
The Dale County Chronicle has reached out to the governor’s office for additional information and will provide updates as they become available. We also reached out to the White House to see if President Trump had any comments, but we have not received a response as of the publication of this article.
