Freshman Rep. J.R. Riggins, R-Casper, who represents House District 59, hopes to rejoin the legislature in time for the last week of the current session after being sidelined by surgery.
Riggins, who ran unopposed for his seat in the primary, attended the first week of the Wyoming Legislative session but was quickly sidelined after a doctor’s appointment on Jan. 20 revealed a serious heart blockage that required immediate surgery.
“I already had my Yukon packed with my clothes, in fact, they are still hanging in the car on the clothes rack. I was going to head from the doctor’s office to Cheyenne,” he said. Instead, his doctor sent him to the hospital “STAT.”
After an attempt at angioplasty late last month, Riggins said he was told on the table by his cardiologist that the blockage required open heart surgery.Â
He recently had the procedure and was hospitalized four days before being sent home. Now he is waiting to start physical therapy. He also is dealing with a minor post-operation condition.
Riggins said the week before his surgery he attended committee meetings by Zoom, and he continues to watch committee meetings as much as he can.
“I am hoping to be down there for that last week,” he said. “I’m a freshman and I feel like I’m still going to be a freshman in a year.”
Riggins has assignments on the House Minerals, Business & Economic Development, and House Revenue committees.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
