Israel Sharon Completes Second Operation, Condition "Severe"

Jerusalem----January 5.....It is a sunny day in Israel, but many of us are in tears after spending a sleepless night by the TV. Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has completed a second concurrent operation which has stopped the massive bleeding from which Sharon suffered from. Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has assumed the powers of Israel Prime Minister and is now holding an emergency meeting of the Israel Cabinet.

There is very little movement on the streets as the Jewish nation watches the events unfold on Israel television and praying for Sharon's speedy recovery. A speedy recovery may not be realized as doctors and Israel TV are describing the situation as "grave" and life threatening. Sharon is presently undergoing imaging in the intensive care unit. There are reports that the former war hero who created the elite Israel Defense Forces 101 Unit and led Israel troops across the Suez into Egypt during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, has lost movement of his lower body.

Sources in Israel say that the first operation was not successful. The second operation stopped massive bleeding in Sharon's brain. The following 24 hours will tell if Sharon will survive, and if so how crippled he will be as a result of a severe stroke.

According to the Israel Government Press Office and the Israel Prime Minister's Media Adviser, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last evening felt unwell and was taken to the Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. "Since the Prime Minister's treatment requires that he be anesthetized, Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon spoke a short while ago with Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Attorney-General Meni Mazuz; it was decided that Prime Minister Sharon's authority would be transferred to Acting Prime Minister Olmert, who is receiving regular updates regarding Prime Minister Sharon's condition. The Cabinet is now being updated."

Sharon, who has always laughed off adversity, is in a very grave medical situation. According to a medical expert, the procedure is life threatening. Asked what are the chances of surviving this type of surgery, the doctor replied, "Let's be optimistic, some people survive it." The prime minister's close associates said of his condition: "Hope for a miracle."

According to Israel Justice Ministry spokesman Ya'acov Galant, a prime minister legally remains in his post only as long as he is capable of making decisions. Since Sharon is not conscious after suffering from what doctors termed "a serious stroke," his powers and prerogatives were transferred to his deputy, Finance Minister Ehud Olmert.

The Rabbinate in Israel is now organizing a prayer rally service at the Jerusalem's Western Wall. When Sharon had been rushed to the hospital shortly after 10 p.m., his spokesmen claimed that Sharon was conscious and able to speak, but had complained that he was suffering from weakness and "felt ill." Sharon reached the hospital and was carried in on a stretcher shortly before 11 p.m., and was admitted to the hospital's emergency room.

Sharon, who is 77, suffered a "significant'' stroke and was brought to Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital from his ranch in the Negev desert, an official said. Israel Channel 2 TV said Sharon was suffering from paralysis in his lower body and was taken into the hospital on a stretcher.

There is now question as to why Sharon was taken to hospital by ambulance rather than by helicopter. Sources state that the trek to the hospital took over an hour and that the hemorrhage took place during that time. Sharon entered the hospital in an unconscious state.

On Dec. 18, Sharon was taken to Hadassah Hospital from his office after suffering a mild stroke. Doctors said he would not suffer long-term effects from the stroke, but they discovered a birth defect in his heart that apparently contributed to the stroke. Security agents and police spread out around the Jerusalem hospital before Sharon arrived, setting up a security perimeter. Since the first stroke, Sharon has been receiving blood thinners to try to prevent a recurrence of the clotting that caused the stroke. Sharon was scheduled to check into the Jerusalem hospital on Thursday for the procedure repairing a tiny hole between the upper chambers of his heart. Doctors said the blood clot that briefly lodged in Sharon's brain on Dec. 18, causing the stroke, made its way through the hold and from there to a cranial artery.

Ariel Sharon was born at Kfar Malal in Israel on February 27, 1928. He served in the Israel Defense Forces for more than 25 years, retiring with the rank of Major-General. He holds an LL.B in Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1962). Sharon was one of the founding leaders in Israel having served in the Haganah and Israel War of Independence.

At this time Sharon, who has provided both security and stability to Israel and the region, is undergoing several medical tests to determine his present condition which has been described as "stable but grave." Asked if Sharon will survive, a hospital spokesperson would not answer.

Sharon's immediate advisors are appearing "poker faced", avoiding journalists not wanting to give away the seriousness of the situation and projecting their own personal grief through body language. Hopes are fading rapidly for a full recovery as brain damage has been severe. Many in Jerusalem are now preparing for the worst.

The Israel Defense Forces and security establishment are on a higher level of alert, with Sharon senior advisor Ranan Gissin warning "those up North and in the South not to take advantage of the situation." Israel will not tolerate any form of terrorism during this or any other time.

"He is a fighter," said Sharon media advisor Gissin. "We pray that he will win this battle as well."

Wow, that's very interesting/troubling. Has there been any confirmation of this from another source?

2 posted on 01/05/2006 12:52:38 AM PST by thecabal ("Now die monkeys and stop saying Muslims are terrorists,we are peaceful people!")

"Hopes are fading rapidly for a full recovery as brain damage has been severe. Many in Jerusalem are now preparing for the worst."

Still, miracles can happen. Pray for one.

Maybe God really doesn't want peace in between Israelis and Palestinians.

4 posted on 01/05/2006 2:43:53 AM PST by Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit ("A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both." - Dwight D. Eisenhower)

"Let's be optimistic, some people survive it."

Oh yeah, THAT's encouraging!

6 posted on 01/05/2006 3:22:11 AM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

With the hospital only an hour away, getting a medical helicopter, flying, landing can sometimes take as long or longer then an ambulance. This can be especially true if the ambulance is sitting right there, ready to go.

Another possible reason could be in consideration of a low platlet count (easy bleeding). Helicopters can be deferred if the patient is bleeding very easily in fear of a "hard landing". Oddly enough I was talking to someone just yesterday morning who had to be taken once via ambulance for this very reason.

Just some possible considerations.

8 posted on 01/05/2006 3:44:19 AM PST by FarmerW ("We have the freedoms we fight for, and we lose those we don't defend." -Rushdie)

There will be peace someday. But, not through Man's devices. And not through any charismatic leader's devices. The Lord Himself shall bring it to pass.

"Maybe God really doesn't want peace in between Israelis and Palestinians.

Or maybe Satan is the ruler of this earthly kingdom until God rightfully comes back and reclaims it.

10 posted on 01/05/2006 5:13:52 AM PST by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I looked in my rearview mirror.)

11 posted on 01/05/2006 5:36:33 AM PST by SJackson (There's no such thing as too late, that's why they invented death. Walter Matthau)

There are two things I don't understand about this. Why would they give him blood thinners for so long and not be constantly monitoring him, and why on earth would they choose to drive for over an hour when he is ill. Especially after the stroke last time.

12 posted on 01/05/2006 5:39:05 AM PST by McGavin999 (If Intelligence Agencies can't find leakers, how can we expect them to find terrorists?)

Giving blood thinners is sop for a number of things. If there is any worry about clotting causing a problem, they thin. You can certainly have a stroke from ischemic blockage, too.

No doubt they were monitoring him. They were getting ready to do cardiac surgery on him. They just didn't know he was going to have a blow out.

My mother had a mild heart attack, and they gave her clot dissolving drugs. It dissolved the plaque that was keeping an aortal aneurysm from bursting. It burst, and she died. But she certainly was being monitored.

13 posted on 01/05/2006 5:51:22 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)

14 posted on 01/05/2006 6:07:24 AM PST by McGavin999 (If Intelligence Agencies can't find leakers, how can we expect them to find terrorists?)

As I recall Na Warfarin is used medicinally to prevent blood clots and as the main ingredient in rat poison.

yep. That's what coumadin is. It can keep a clot producing person alive for years past the time they would have lived otherwise. But it requires monitoring regularly to make sure the dosage isn't causing problems.

16 posted on 01/05/2006 6:34:12 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)

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