Mayor Rob Ford has been moved to Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital for further investigation into a tumour that has been found in his abdomen.
The hospital issued a news release Thursday saying Ford had been moved for 'followup investigation and subsequent treatment.'
The mayor went to Humber River Hospital on Wednesday, where doctors made a working diagnosis that he has a tumour.
Jaklin Gulpashin, a woman visiting her mother at Humber River, said she saw the mayor leave via ambulance at the rear entrance of the building.
Nurses confirmed Ford was in one of the ambulances. Humber River Regional Hospital later confirmed the mayor would be heading to downtown Mount Sinai, on University Avenue's 'hospital row.'
His brother and campaign manager, Coun. Doug Ford, and Humber president Dr. Rueben Devlin, announced the news about the mayor's tumour last night, stunning many in the city including the Fords' council colleagues.
'It's a big shock,' said Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong, when speaking to the media on Thursday.
'I think we're all sad and concerned about the mayor's health and we hope the news that we're going to hear in the next couple of days is going to be really positive and he's going to get better.'
Coun. Joe Mihevc said he was among many Torontonians who are concerned about the mayor.
'It's a shocker for us all. We thought he was in good health and he was in recovery mode from health issues that he was struggling with,' Mihevc said.
'I think, frankly, most all of us in Toronto, our prayers are with him on a personal level.'
There is still scant information about the mayor's overall condition.
Coun. Ford arrived at Humber River Hospital on Thursday morning for a visit, prior to the mayor's departure. The usually talkative councillor did not say much to media.
'[Rob]'s doing all right, he's keeping in good spirits,' said Ford as he walked through the hospital parking lot to the entrance.
Renata Ford, the mayor's wife, was at the hospital on Thursday morning as well. She greeted Coun. Ford as he entered.
Neither family member was able to share news as to whether the tumour was benign or malignant.
When asked when he might comment on about what will happen next, the councillor said: 'I need a day or so.'
Coun. Ford said the news of his brother's hospitalization was 'devastating' and said he didn't get any sleep last night.
'Unbearable' pain
The mayor, who turned 45 in May, was hospitalized Wednesday after seeking treatment for 'unbearable' abdominal pain.
Doctors said the mayor will be kept in hospital over the next few days as tests are conducted to learn more about the tumour and what treatment will be pursued.
Ford had abdominal surgery in 2009 to remove a tumour on his appendix. His father, Doug Ford Sr., died of colon cancer in 2006.
Ford is running for re-election in the Oct. 27 municipal vote and his brother wouldn't say how the tumour diagnosis might impact his campaign.As of Thursday afternoon, his name still appeared on the city's website as one of the candidates registered to run for mayor.
Throughout his term, Ford has often found himself at the centre of controversy, but particularly so over the past two years.
Last year, Ford found himself at the centre of a drug-related scandal that enveloped his office for months and eventually saw him admit to smoking crack cocaine. Council stripped him of some of his powers, but he did not step down despite intense pressure.
There was also a police investigation relating to the so-called crack tape, the recording of Ford using the drug, which the mayor initially denied existed.
Ford was repeatedly caught on tape acting strangely, and he admitted to drinking after he had sworn off alcohol in the wake of the drug scandal. Ford has blamed his crack use on his drinking.
He also travelled to Los Angeles to appear on Jimmy Kimmel's show.
This past spring, Ford was photographed holding a crack pipe and, shortly after, he enrolled in a rehab program.
He returned to his job at the end of June.
Ford is up against dozens of candidates in the coming mayoral election. But the mayor is one of the top three candidates in the polls, along with Olivia Chow and John Tory.
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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