Cincinnati Council Member Wendell Young is recovering in the hospital from an emergency heart surgery.
In a news conference Wednesday, Dr. Steve Park at Good Samaritan Hospital said Young suffered an acute aortic dissection, a life threatening emergency.
"It's where the aortic wall splits and they form a false channel in the wall of the aorta," Park said. "It has the propensity to rupture at which time patients usually die."
It's the same condition that caused the death of actor John Ritter.
Young underwent surgery last Thursday to correct the issue and Park says he expects Young to make a full recovery.
Family members, including his daughters and wife Kathy, who is running for a seat on Cincinnati's school board, say his condition caught them off guard but he is doing well and they're thankful for the prayers.
Young is up for re-election this year. Campaign manager Sedrick Denson says Young is still in the race and the campaign team is fully engaged.