A representative for Rob Ford will update the public on the Toronto mayor’s condition on Wednesday at 5 p.m., according to the mayor's brother.
Doug Ford visited his brother at Mount Sinai Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters that this whole process has been very tough on him and his whole family.
Doug said he appreciates the support his family has received over the past week. "I just want to thank the public for their prayers and thoughts. I can't tell you how grateful we are as a family," he said.
Renata Ford, the mayor's wife, who is rarely seen in the public eye, entered hospital before Doug. She said her husband and family are "trying to stay in good spirits."
Rob Ford is waiting for the results of a lung biopsy following a scope conducted Monday, part of a series of tests conducted over the past week after the mayor was hospitalized with an abdominal tumour last week.
As a result of the tumour, Ford pulled out of Toronto’s mayoral race and will instead run for a councillor position in his old Etobicoke North riding, Ward 2. Doug Ford, who registered to run in Rob’s place, is not expected to do any campaigning until after Wednesday’s update.
The Toronto mayor is still waiting on test results to determine the severity of his tumour. Right now, it's unclear whether the mass is cancerous. The results are expected by the end of the week.
On Tuesday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne wished Ford a speedy recovery. Wynne, who has mostly stayed away from recent controversies at city hall, did not comment on Doug Ford joining the mayoral race, only saying her thoughts are with the Ford family.
Earlier Tuesday, the Toronto Sun's Joe Warmington told CTV News Channel, after speaking to Ford on the phone, that the mayor sounds like "a pretty sick man."
Warmington said Ford sounded like he's in "pretty rough shape," and his breathing sounded laboured.
Ford has been making constituent calls from his hospital bed, but is in pain and experiencing nausea, Warmington said. "He's certainly got fight in him, but he sounded really horrible."
Until a diagnosis is confirmed, it's unclear what kind of treatment Ford will require.
With files form the Canadian Press and CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson
