State Sen. Claire Celsi has entered hospice care, her family said in a statement.

Celsi, 59, a Democrat from West Des Moines, was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018.

Her family released a statement on Monday, Sept. 18.

"Senator Claire Celsi, our beloved wife, sister, mom and grandma, has entered hospice care," Celsi's family said in the statement. "Our family asks that you please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you."

The statement did not include further details.

Earlier this year, Celsi missed multiple months of votes in the Iowa Senate because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Celsi represents Iowa Senate District 16 , which includes parts of West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics fo

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