Apparently he’s been hospitalized for two weeks, originally entering a Washington-area hospital for a different infection. Staph infections aren’t walks in the park when you’re young and healthy, much less when you’re a frail 91-year-old in a wheelchair.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert C. Byrd, who has served in the Senate longer than anyone in history, has developed a staph infection that has prolonged his stay in a Washington-area hospital.

Byrd’s office said the West Virginia Democrat, hospitalized more than two weeks ago for an earlier infection, was being treated with antibiotics and was responding well. Staph infections differ in severity depending on the site of infection, but are more of a threat to people with weakened immune systems and underlying chronic illnesses.

Byrd, 91, has become increasingly frail in recent years and moves about in a wheelchair. Renowned for his oratory, he now reads his speeches, sometimes with difficulty.

To the Associated Press’ credit, the article actually bothers to mention that Byrd was a member of the Klu Klux Klan and tried to filibuster the 1964 Civil Rights Act. There’s no mention of the fact he’s still known to use the n-word, but baby steps. Baby steps.

All politics aside, best of luck to Byrd. Hopefully he recovers well.