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| S.D. Senator Moves to Rehab Facility | |
| 2007-02-21 | |
| WASHINGTON (AP) - Two months after his brain hemorrhage, South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson has left a Washington hospital and entered a private rehabilitation facility, his office said Tuesday. A spokeswoman refused to say whether the senator remained in Washington or was moved to a facility in South Dakota, citing family concerns about media scrutiny. ``They just want him to focus on getting better and not worried about outside cameras snapping away,'' said spokeswoman Julianne Fisher. Johnson was rushed to George Washington University Hospital after becoming disoriented during a phone call with reporters Dec. 13th and underwent emergency surgery hours later. He was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, a condition that causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large, become tangled and sometimes burst. He was sedated and on a ventilator for several weeks due to fluid that developed in his lungs as a result of the initial hemorrhage. He was upgraded from critical to fair condition on Jan. 9. Johnson will continue undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy at the private facility. Dr. Philip Marion, the hospital's chief of rehabilitation, said in a statement released by Johnson's office that the senator has made ``great progress'' and a final test showed no evidence the tangled arteries that triggered the senator's hemorrhage remain. Part of Johnson's therapy has been to deal with weakness on his right side. Doctors have said the senator showed that weakness when he arrived at the hospital in December. Johnson's office has said his recovery is expected to take several months, though he has been doing some work from his bed. ``He's reading memos, but he still needs time for recovery,'' Fisher said.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 If he has weakness on his right side then I believe his speech is likely impacted. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. But my mom had a stroke this year and can't move her right arm nor can she speak much beyond yes and no. I can't compare my mother to fat Teddy, even in jest. She is too dear a woman for that. I hope the Senator's recovery goes well. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2007-02-21 17:21 |
| #6 Very little has been disclosed of Sen. Johnson's thinking, speech and comprehension ability. Residual weakness is not important (see FDR), a legislator can function well if he can concentrate, speak and understand language decently. Changing the rules of Congress to allow for this kind of problem is long overdue. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-02-21 14:20 |
| #5 ``They just want him to focus on getting better and not worried about outside cameras snapping away,'' said spokeswoman Julianne Fisher. Johnson's office has said his recovery is expected to take several months, though he has been doing some work from his bed. ``He's reading memos, but he still needs time for recovery,'' Fisher said. This must be the South Dakota version of Castro Watch. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2007-02-21 14:17 |
| #4 In the meantime, So Dakota is only 50% represented, due to the Dems' desire to hold power in the Senate, for what looks like 6+ months.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-02-21 12:42 |
| #3 "enough recovery to return to the Senate" ain't saying much, Doc. I got toe jam that could do a passable job there. I wish the man recovery to real life, not |
| Posted by: Spot 2007-02-21 08:58 |
| #2 "Prospects aren't bad at all for enough recovery to return to the Senate" Yes, but that's not saying much. Guys like Kennedy and Byrd seem able to function normally in the Senate well after their deaths - they are dead, aren't they? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-02-21 08:55 |
| #1 Get well soon. |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-02-21 06:15 |