Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin Credit: Photo by John Anderson

A minor cycling accident lead to Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, being hospitalized yesterday in Minnesota. But don’t worry, he’s on the road to recovery after a surprisingly serious medical scare.

Naishtat was in Minneapolis, Minn. for the National Conference of State Legislatures 2014 Legislative Summit, and was out on a bike ride. According to his friend and colleague Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, he hit a railing and fell. While this does not initially sound very bad, he was transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with serious internal bleeding.

Fortunately, Howard told the Chronicle, “He has turned the corner and is hopefully past the critical point.”
Staff were able to treat his condition medically without the need for surgery. That’s good news for Naishat, who told her he was worried that he might have to go NPO [nil per os, Latin for “nothing by mouth”], “which sounds like the Elliott we know and love,” said Howard.

This article appears in August 22 • 2014.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.