State Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, is in critical care at an Olympia hospital after a "cardiac episode" at home Saturday night, according to a press release his office just sent out.

An echocardiogram test showed that Swecker, who recently turned 61, has a congenital heart valve abnormality that requires open heard surgery, the release says. Surgery's slated for Wednesday or Thursday.

Swecker had just gotten out of the hospital on Friday, after hip replacement surgery last Wednesday.

His wife, Debby Swecker, said Swecker is in stable condition and good spirits, and appreciates messages and prayers he's getting. The family is steering well-wishers and press calls to Swecker's spokesman, Brian Zylstra, at zylstra.brian@leg.wa.gov.

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