Posted on 12/18/2005 6:06:08 PM PST by anotherview
Dec. 18, 2005 20:20 | Updated Dec. 19, 2005 1:29
PM recovers from mild stroke, saying 'Time to move forward (kadima)'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Omri Sharon arrives at the hospital to visit his father.
Photo: AP
While recovering from a mild stroke on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon joked with his medical and office staff, telling them that they "are not rid of him yet." He added in a bit of self-humor that he thought he should take a few days off. Using a double entendre on the name of his new political party Kadima (forward in Hebrew), he quipped that he felt fine, and that the time had arrived to move forward.
The prime minister was rushed to Hadassah-University Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem after suffering a mild stroke on Sunday evening. He underwent a series of medical examinations including an MRI and neurological tests, all of which, according to hospital staff, were satisfactory.
Deputy director of the hospital, Prof. Yuval Weiss related in a press conference that the prime minister remained conscious continuously since his arrival at 7:50 p.m. That announcement contradicted earlier rumors, according to which, Sharon lost consciousness on the way to the hospital and had to be brought in on a stretcher. Other sources revealed that the prime minister walked into the trauma room on his own.
Weiss added that Sharon's condition improved during his hospitalization. The hospital official noted that the prime minister did not require any invasive procedures. Sharon reportedly asked to be released Sunday night, but the physicians denied his request. He was sent to the internal medicine department and although he was to remain in Hadassah overnight, he was expected to be released in the morning.
The prime minister was taken directly to the VIP section of the hospital's trauma room, probably because of its higher security precautions. Meanwhile, Hadassah was closed off to civilian entry by special police forces. The senior medical staff of the hospital was called in to treat him. Neurologists on staff were already looking after the prime minister.
Hospital deputy director Professor Shmuel Shapira said that Sharon's condition was stable, and that it was too early to know exactly what happened to him. Shapira would not discuss Sharon's condition further, saying the prime minister had a right to medical privacy. Unofficial sources revealed that the stroke was likely caused by a blot clot. The prime minister reportedly started medical treatment with a blood-thinner to reduce the clot.
According to Channel 1, the prime minister felt unwell while on the way to Tel Aviv on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. Sharon told his son Gilad over the phone that he did not feel well, and Gilad ordered his security detail to take him directly to the hospital. MK Omri Sharon, the prime minister's other son, arrived at the hospital shortly after his father.
Army Radio reported for the first time that a paramedic is permanently attached to the prime minister's retinue, and that the paramedic accompanied him to the hospital.
Sharon, who will celebrate his 78th birthday in February, is already the oldest incumbent prime minister in Israeli history. Approximately three years ago, the prime minister underwent kidney stone surgery.
Cabinet secretary Yisrael Maimon was reportedly at the prime minister's bedside, fielding the many phone calls from politicians and dignitaries.
A meeting of Kadima's ministers was cancelled due to Sharon's condition, but the faction meeting was set to continue as planned.
Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz was the first politician to respond publicly to the incident, saying he wished the prime minister well.
President Moshe Katsav expressed similar wishes as well.
MK Eli Yishai also called on behalf of Shas's spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to wish Sharon a speedy recovery.
On the right side of the political spectrum, far-right Likud leadership candidate also wished the prime minister a long life - but out of politics.
Finance Minister and Vice Premier Ehud Olmert, who would replace Sharon as prime minister in the event that Sharon was unable to perform his duties, was in the country making his way to the hospital.
Foreign media outlets, including those from the western and Arab world were reporting extensively on the incident.
The United States Ambassador Elliot Abrams called the prime minister's office to express wishes for Sharon's recovery on behalf of US President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Likewise, the EU's concern for the prime minister were related by their foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Similar calls were received from PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
I don't believe this report. Other reports say that he suffered the effects of a stroke (paralyzed face, slurred speech) and that he was unconscious for at least 45 minutes.
If he's in such great shape, let's see a news interview with cameras, or at least a taped interview with reports. Anything else probably is lies and propaganda.
You know Allah's phone is ringing off the hook!!!
Time to lose some weight is what he should say.
"Mild stroke" is about the same as "routine traffic stop" - no such thing......
That's what I think. He must have been devastated by the stroke. According to reports, he called his son who immediately ordered him to the hospital. He must have been terribly hurt by his stroke for his son to realize how bad it was on the basis of a cellphone call.
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