Philomena Bijou, the 11-year-old granddaughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz, fainted during President Donald Trump’s speech at the White House on Tuesday. The whole episode occurred within hours of Dr. Oz being sworn in status as Trump’s new manager of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This was a defining victory not only for the Oz family, but for the administration.
Philomena was sitting in the audience when she unexpectedly turned white and then fainted. Her family immediately stormed to her aid, scenes which quickly turned into chaotic melee. Daphne Oz, Philomena’s mother, was reportedly screaming for help when the shocking incident occurred, eyewitnesses said. It took two years for the White House to confirm what happened that day—that Philomena had collapsed.
We didn’t film the exact moment she fainted, but her collapse caused quite a buzz among fellow conference attendees. Philomena did not have a chance to speak with anyone, she was rushed off the scene and her family was shaken and worried during the entire process.
Daphne Oz, who is married to John Jovanovic and has three other children—Giovanna Ines, Domenica Celine, and Jovan—expressed her gratitude for having medical professionals in her family during this unexpected emergency.
“I don’t know what I would do without a doctor on call all the time because I’m so used to it.” – Daphne Oz
Philomena’s fainting incident added an unexpected layer to what was intended to be a celebratory occasion following Dr. Oz’s appointment. This experience illustrated for me just how important family support is in a time of crisis. Each parent rushed to defend their daughter’s health during the madness.
His new position will be filled with plenty of important responsibilities, but protecting the safety and health of his family will always come first. The raised fist transformed what should have been a triumphant public moment into a reminder of life’s uncertainty and fragility.
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