Dingell, longest serving member, fractures hip in fall

by Rachel Huggins - 12/13/14 2:22 PM ET

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the longest-serving member of Congress, fractured his hip and faces a long recovery, but his wife says no surgery is needed.

Dingell, 88, was hospitalized Friday Morning in Washington after casting his last vote in his 59 year career.

His wife, Debbie Dingell, said it was by “sheer grit and determination” that he didn’t miss the final days of his last House session, according to the Associated Press.

Dingell suffered a fall last week and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Debbie, who will take her husband’s vacated seat in January, posted on Facebook that the Michigan Democrat has a hairline hip fracture “which he walked around on for a couple of days before it was discovered.”

“Thankfully, no surgery is needed but it’s going to take time to heal. We are in the process of figuring things out but it will be a few weeks before they will allow him to travel,” she wrote.