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Doctor:(Senator Tim) Johnson Improving After Surgery
Fox News ^
| 8 January 2008
| MARY CLARE JALONICK
Posted on 01/08/2007 12:03:52 PM PST by shrinkermd
Weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage, Sen. Tim Johnson is improving but still needs a ventilator at night to help him breathe, his doctor said Wednesday
The doctor said Johnson no longer needs a ventilator full-time. "His breathing has steadily improved and now he only requires ventilator assistance at night," said Deshmukh, the neurosurgeon treating the senator.
...His long-term prognosis is unclear. Deshmukh said his recovery is expected to take several months.
The senator "continues to be responsive to both his family and physicians _ following commands, squeezing his wife's hand, and understanding speech," Deshmukh said.
...Johnson has not spoken since the surgery because of the ventilator tubes, said spokeswoman Julianne Fisher. Doctors hope to remove the ventilator completely within the next week and then will test his speech, she said.
The senator was sedated for almost two weeks but has now been removed from the sedation, Fisher said.
"He does more, he has been moving more. These are all very positive signs," she said.
Johnson's doctors have said that when he arrived at the hospital, he was feeling weakness on his right side, and that condition probably will require physical therapy.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: South Dakota
KEYWORDS: congress; improves; senatorjohnson; ussenate
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I don't think there has been anything new reported in the last week. Last Saturday on a radio news program his son reported his father was doing better and could sit up. In two days it will be four weeks since the Senator had surgery.
To: shrinkermd
Amazing how pro-life the dems became on this issue...
2
posted on
01/08/2007 12:06:55 PM PST
by
2banana
(My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
To: shrinkermd
His vegetative state has been upgraded from turnip to cucumber.
All kidding aside, I hope for his full recovery.
3
posted on
01/08/2007 12:18:16 PM PST
by
My2Cents
("Friends stab you from the front." -- Oscar Wilde)
To: shrinkermd
I hope those vents are mobile. If not, you can bet dirty harry is trying to figure out how to wheel one on to the Senate floor..
4
posted on
01/08/2007 12:20:37 PM PST
by
cardinal4
To: cardinal4
Senator Johnson voting on the Senate Floor.
5
posted on
01/08/2007 12:24:27 PM PST
by
Perdogg
(Check out my Christmas Greetings at my Freep homepage)
To: shrinkermd
Deshmukh, the neurosurgeon treating the senator.
Off subject, but I can see why the good doctor chose medicine versus a career in the law.
6
posted on
01/08/2007 12:25:41 PM PST
by
ErnBatavia
(recent nightmare: Googled up "Helen Thomas nude"....)
To: 2banana
>Amazing how pro-life the dems became on this issue...
In the words of Buck Murdoch of Airplane II:
"There's got to be a better angle!"
7
posted on
01/08/2007 12:26:35 PM PST
by
ROTB
(Our Constitution...only for a [Christian] people...it is wholly inadequate for any other.-J.Q.Adams)
To: shrinkermd
Terri could breathe without a ventilator. They'll have some explainin' to do to keep him alive on a ventilator in a comatose state till the end of his term.
Before I get flamed:
Prayers for his complete recovery and his family.
8
posted on
01/08/2007 12:27:17 PM PST
by
tioga
To: My2Cents
Yeah, from this article Johnson sounds in a bad way. Sure, his condition may improve, but it appears that improvement may be on a scale of years. Who knows if he will be able to walk, or what his communication will be, or if his intellect remains fully intact.
I really do hope the guy recovers, but at the same time I think there is collusion going on with the Dems scheming on how to maintain political power in spite of the circumstances.
I would like to believe that most families under similar circumstances would care less about politics and resign so that their father could focus solely on recovery. Further, unless some health insurance benefit is a factor,it seems like a selfish move to cling to this senate seat knowing that Sen. Johnson looks to be incapacitated for quite a while. Four weeks after the incident and he is still on a respirator indicates a long, long way to go before some unknown recovery point.
9
posted on
01/08/2007 12:28:42 PM PST
by
Obadiah
To: Perdogg
Beep once if you are voting with Pelosi....
10
posted on
01/08/2007 12:29:11 PM PST
by
Slicksadick
(Go out on a limb........Its where the fruit is.)
To: shrinkermd
11
posted on
01/08/2007 12:29:14 PM PST
by
Tribune7
(Conservatives hold bad behavior against their leaders. Dims don't.)
To: Tribune7
prayers for Senator Johnson.
12
posted on
01/08/2007 12:30:20 PM PST
by
Perdogg
(Check out my Christmas Greetings at my Freep homepage)
To: Perdogg
Prayer agreeing with your prayers ... two or more ya know.
13
posted on
01/08/2007 12:39:54 PM PST
by
MHGinTN
(If you can read this, you've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
To: shrinkermd
I have beem praying daily for Senator Johnson since he suffered a brain hemorrhage. I hope for his prompt recovery and return to the U.S. Senate so that our country will be able to benefit from the Senator's considerable intellect.
14
posted on
01/08/2007 12:41:55 PM PST
by
MurryMom
To: shrinkermd
Prayers for his full recovery and his family's strength.
15
posted on
01/08/2007 12:48:34 PM PST
by
pogo101
To: shrinkermd
The news he is no longer sedated is news to me, hopefully he is aware or will be soon, and an honest report of his condition will be forthcoming. I wish him well and a full recovery.
16
posted on
01/08/2007 12:51:21 PM PST
by
thinkthenpost
(I am the KING of the run on sentence.)
To: thinkthenpost
I wish his recovery, but if he were a republican there would be calls for him to step down.
17
posted on
01/08/2007 1:06:29 PM PST
by
Williams
To: shrinkermd
While Johnson will likely recover enough to return to perhaps part time Senate duties, will he be well enough to run again when his term expires in 2009?
18
posted on
01/08/2007 1:27:09 PM PST
by
The Great RJ
("Mir we bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." ..Luxembourg motto)
To: Obadiah
at the same time I think there is collusion going on with the Dems scheming on how to maintain political power in spite of the circumstancesPrecisely. Can you imagine the howls in the media if this were a Republican senator and his resignation for health reasons would result in the appointment of a Democrat? I mean, this would be the number one topic every night on "Hardball." Yet, we hear nothing from the "conservatives" in the media. I guess that shows that we have more class and compassion than the Dems.
19
posted on
01/08/2007 1:31:17 PM PST
by
My2Cents
("Friends stab you from the front." -- Oscar Wilde)
To: MurryMom
I hope for his prompt recovery and return to the U.S. Senate so that our country will be able to benefit from the Senator's considerable intellect.Are you saying he plans to caucus with the Republicans?!
20
posted on
01/08/2007 1:33:01 PM PST
by
My2Cents
("Friends stab you from the front." -- Oscar Wilde)
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