Roth released from hospital, recovering at home from heart attack

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth was released from Hilo Medical Center today, 11 days after suffering a heart attack.

Speaking from home, where he’ll recuperate until doctors clear him to return to work, Roth said he underwent a procedure Tuesday to have a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted.

“That’s a little bit painful,” said the 56-year-old Roth, who also had a stent inserted a few hours after being stricken on Jan. 9.

“I’m glad to be out,” he said. “I feel good other than the pain from having this pacemaker put in.”

Roth said his his mother, who turned 90 on Monday, died Tuesday in California, while he was still hospitalized.

“My mom played a huge role in my life,” he said. “In my inauguration speech, I talked about her, some of the lessons I learned from her.”

See Thursday’s Tribune-Herald for more.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.