Former President Reagan Rarely Awake - Report

Yahoo News ^ | December 5, 2003

[RWR8189]

Former President Ronald Reagan, is now confined to a bed, rarely awake and unable to walk or talk, People magazine said in a report issued on Thursday. In an essay accompanying the article about the former president's condition, daughter Patti Davis said people may still think Reagan, 92, is somewhat mobile and active, despite his well-publicized illness, because his family has guarded his privacy so zealously.

"But it would be a disservice to every family who has an Alzheimer's victim in their embrace to say any of that is true, and I don't believe my father would want us to lie," she wrote.

The magazine said Reagan spends his days either in a bed or occasionally in a wheelchair, in a small room at his home in the exclusive Bel Air section of Los Angeles, where he is kept out of the sight of all but his closest family and helpers.

His condition has been in the spotlight again of late after CBS shelved plans to air a mini-series on his presidency that conservative groups said was biased and an unfair attack on someone who was no longer able to defend himself.

The miniseries was eventually edited into a single movie and shown on CBS's sister cable network, Showtime.

Davis, once estranged from her family, said her family's life is now arranged around Reagan's bedside, where he spends his sedentary days.

"When he is awake, which is not that often, he can gaze at the trees outside the window," Davis said.

[RWR8189]

God bless the Gipper and his family.

[TheBigB]

:-(

[Trueblackman]

This upset me, for a man who did so much for the world to go like this, while slime like Clinton walks around and screws the world.

[finnman69]

Just remember, there is a special spot being reserved right now by Adolf, Pol Pot, Stalin, Dahmer and a few others for Bubba.

[retrokitten]

Agreed. It brought tears to my eyes. God bless him.

[woofie]

I had an Aunt who had Alzheimer's ...death can be a blessing

[WinOne4TheGipper]

This is more serious than I ever imagined.

[jmcclain19]

Even though we knew for a long while that news like this could come out, that doesn't make it any easier to digest.

[dansangel]

This upset me, for a man who did so much for the world to go like this, while slime like Clinton walks around and screws the world.

It is so unfair.

[anniegetyourgun]

Sounds like the end is nearing for him. I know when it comes, all conservatives will not just mourn his passing, but celebrate his contributions and style. The only regret that I have is that all past living presidents must be invited to his funeral. With the exception of the elder Bush, none are worthy.

[BlueNgold]

The impact of this man, as a man, is evident in the actions, class, and integrity of his family. His impact on the country is evident every day we awake in a society where we are free to pray, debate, work, and love our own families. God Bless all of the Reagan clan, prayers to him, his family, and those who continue his work.

[LouD]

Oh Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.


O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.


My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

-Walt Whitman

[Dead Dog]

We'll see what Xlinton looks like at Reagan's age. Bill will get his in the end, hopefully in a prison shower.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

What about our current president? The Gipper would be proud of his economic/foreign policies.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

And when the time comes, we will see the full spectrum of ugliness of the American (and probably international) Left. Count on it.

[ChemistCat]

Mercy, that is a man with a powerful will to live. Think about it. One could say his time to go has come and gone, and here he is.

Bless his family for staying by him; his spirit is surely not captive to his stubborn, breathing body as they are. A man like that doesn't quit working just because his spirit and brain are no longer integrated, though his brain and body still are.

That's what I think. Can't prove it. Just think it, hope it, believe it. Can't let myself believe otherwise, since President Reagan's fate will be shared by so many of us...and we may not have loving family to make sure we're as comfortable as possible while going through it.

The alternative is simply unbearable...that he is trapped in there and aware that he is trapped, unable to use his once keen mind...unable to even perceive when loved ones are near...and knowing that to be the case!

At any rate, Nancy has proven herself the best wife any man could ever have had. Shame on the people who slam her. I hope her husband knows how rarely she has left his side all these years.

And forgive me for praying that soon they will both be released from this onerous, sad vigil.

[anniegetyourgun]

Of course, I assume the current president will preside over the event. I was only speaking about past living presidents.

[antivenom]

May God always bless the Reagans.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

What the hell do you mean by that?