Wife of former Long Island Congressman has life-saving surgery

Rosemary King, wife of former Long Island Congressman Peter King, was rushed to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, a part of Northwell Health, the state’s largest healthcare provider, for an emergency gallbladder removal after experiencing severe abdominal pain.

On June 30, the active 79-year-old Seaford resident found herself bedridden and in excruciating discomfort, prompting her family doctor to recommend immediate medical attention.

Peter King, who represented parts of Nassau County’s South Shore in Congress for 28 years before retiring in 2021, drove his wife to the hospital under stressful conditions, he said, battling rain and traffic on the Long Island Expressway. King said that his wife has a high threshold for pain but was screaming during the car ride to the hospital.

“I just didn’t feel she was out of the woods until after the surgery," King said in a news release.

Upon arrival, Dr. Allison Cohen, an emergency medicine specialist, took over Rosemary’s care. 

“When she first arrived, she looked very uncomfortable,” Dr. Cohen said, “complaining of pains everywhere throughout her abdomen.”

An ultrasound revealed an inflamed and distended gallbladder. Rosemary was given fluids and antibiotics to stabilize her condition.

Transplant surgeon Dr. Gerardo Tamayo-Enriquez performed the gallbladder removal, which did not go as planned. What was initially a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure turned into an open surgery when Dr. Tamayo-Enriquez saw the extent of the internal trauma, which was inflammation, bleeding and surrounding tissue stuck to the organ. The gallbladder itself was difficult to access, because the liver was out of place, he added.

Despite the complications, Dr. Tamayo-Enriquez emphasized the procedure was coordinated well and performed promptly. He explained that gallstones could cause the gallbladder to become inflamed and infected. Gangrene or sepsis could have set in if the condition was not attended to immediately, which could have possibly fatal results.

Rosemary spent seven days in the hospital recovering and has since returned to her normal activities, including driving. She expressed her deep gratitude to the medical staff and her husband for their support during an Aug. 14 news conference at the hospital.

"I had the best care—professional, emotional, and personal treatment from everyone," she said. "From the person who brought me my food to the person who put the IV in my arm."

King called his wife’s recovery "a miracle," praising the hospital staff's transparency and attentiveness. He added that his wife is now "back in fighting form."

“To actually see it step-by-step, how it’s done, and the care that’s given and the concern that’s given, there was never an unanswered question,” King said of the procedure, “and that, to me, is as important as anything else.”

The Kings have a long history with North Shore University Hospital. Fifty-four years ago, their son was born there via emergency cesarean. Now, the same hospital has provided life-saving care to Rosemary King.