Posted on 12/13/2006 12:46:10 PM PST by leadpenny
Edited on 12/13/2006 2:04:33 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
http://capwiz.com/c-span/bio/?id=537&lvl=C&chamber=S
Sen. Johnson suffers possible stroke
12/13/2006, 4:53 p.m. ET
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered a possible stroke Wednesday and was taken to a Washington hospital, his office said.
Johnson became disoriented during a call with reporters at midday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call.
If he should be unable to continue to serve, it could halt the scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate. Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican.
Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said he had walked back to his Capitol office after the call with reporters but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician came to his office and examined him, and it decided he needed to go to the hospital.
He was taken by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital around noon, Fisher said.
"It was caught very early," she said.
Johnson's office released a statement saying he had suffered a possible stroke.
"At this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team," the statement read.
The White House issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Senator Johnson and his family," said spokesman Alex Conant.
If the two-term senator, 59, is unable to serve when the 110th Congress convenes Jan. 4, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds would appoint a replacement. Johnson had surgery for prostate cancer in 2004. He is up for re-election in 2008.
South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said there are no special restrictions on such an appointment and a replacement would not have to be from the same political party.
Johnson turns 60 on Dec. 28. The centrist Democrat was elected to the Senate in 1996 and has been one of the more reserved members of the chamber, rarely taking center stage at news conferences.
He served in the House for 10 years from 1987 to 1997. His focus has been on committee assignments important to his state's interests — Indian Affairs and Energy and Natural Resources — as well as a spot on Appropriations. The latter allows him to direct funds to South Dakota.
Johnson has worked as a lawyer and county prosecutor and served several years in the 1970s and 1980s in the South Dakota state Legislature.
If that is true .. I doubt very much it's a stroke .. definitely sounds like he had an aneurysm
Sending more prayers for the Senator
Try adding Dramamine to settle your stomach and slightly calm you to the front end of that.
I howled with laughter when somebody on that thread mentioned the weather machine ;-).
Update - 12/13/2006
Senator Johnson Suffers Health Emergency
Two Democratic sources tell CNN that Senator Tim Johnson was undergoing brain surgery Wednesday night at George Washington University Hospital.
The senator was taken to the hospital Wednesday for stroke-like symptoms, but his Communications Director Julieanne Fischer tells CNN, Johnson did not suffer a stroke or heart attack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If this is the case, I don't wish brain surgery on anyone. Wishing him a safe outcome and recovery.
The only funny aspect of this sad situation are the thousands of rats in DC..who hate religious people and deny the existance of God, are suddenly on their hands and knees praying for the health of Tim Johnson.
Is that the definition of irony?
My mother (only 58 years old) suffered a level 4 aneurysm in July of this year. She was in a coma for 2 weeks and hospitalized for 91 days. She currently is physically fine but not able to understand or communicate with us. Her speech is garbled and her understanding at about 50%.
This type of brain injury is pure hell on both the victim and the family. My fervent prayers are being sent to Senator Johnson and his family.
Go to this URL and watch the video accompanying the article -- the audio clip is included.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16191212
Thanks for the update.
It's a Brain Aneurysm and the surgery is to stop the bleeding
This is not good news and he needs our prayers
Thanks for the update, STARWISE.
Wow...prayers way up for Sen. Johnson...the poor guy.
My husband's mother died from a brain aneurysm when he was 18...she complained about a bad headache for a day or so before it caused her death though...
My father had a stroke..and what was described sounds more like what my father was like the first few hours after his stroke.
However..we don't know...and I think I read that he is a cancer survivor...and if that is so...it could be a tumor in the brain..and maybe the doctors can get it out..and he will recover.
I agree it's most likely an aneursym. However surgery is a bad sign. Ideally, cerebral aneurysms are treated by endovascular coils and no surgery is required. I assume GW has a good neuro-interventionalist and if so they are operating to evacuate a blood clot that is creating too much pressure on his brain.
Although this sounds grim, remember Joe Biden had the same thing many years ago and made a full (ahem) recovery.
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From what I have learned with Family members that have had strokes, the Doctor informed us that it takes about 24-48 hours after a stroke for a CT scan to show that it was a stoke. That was a few years back, things may be different now, they may be able to diagnose by blood chemistry. I know most freepers are praying for the best possible outcome.
Prayers being sent for Senator Johnson and his family.
Care to elaborate what you meant by that statement?
Are you wishing Senator Johnson death?
You've been here 6 whole days and I don't think you understand the people of FR. Politics aside, we're praying for Senator Johnson and his family.
Only they're praying to Gaia.
As I understand it, the invasive surgery would entail a longer recovery period but there is still the possibility of a full recovery.
I guess what I'm saying is that just because they may be doing an invasive surgery, it doesn't necessarily mean it is a more severe level of aneurysm.
I have visited those places and the only reason the media don't report what they said about Cheney's heart is that it is so incredibly offensive that there would be no defense of them. You should see what they said about Foley (the former Massachusetts vegan Democrat turned queer republican)
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