New Jersey - Corzine on breathing tube and facing long recovery

The Star-Ledger ^ | April, Friday the 13th, 2007 | Deborah Howlett, et al

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

The duration and distance were short, but in those dizzying seconds and feet, Gov. Jon Corzine suffered injuries serious enough to land him in intensive care with a breathing tube down his throat and a doctor declaring him lucky to be alive.

The 60-year-old governor underwent about two hours of surgery last night to repair multiple broken bones, including 12 ribs and a femur that protruded through the skin of his thigh following a car accident on the Garden State Parkway in Galloway Township.

With two of his adult children by his beside, Corzine, sedated and on intravenous painkillers, remains in intensive care in Cooper University Hospital in Camden this morning. He required seven pints of blood, officials said, and is using a breathing tube to ease his respiration with the broken ribs, and a broken breastbone.

The governor also suffered a broken collarbone and lower back bone and a flap-like cut on his skull, which was a plastic surgeon stitched back together.

Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley said the governor did not appear to have suffered brain or spinal cord damage.

~ snip ~

[Alberta's Child]

The story I’ve heard is that it wasn’t exactly a “hit and run” in the true sense of the term. Vehicle #1, which was merging into traffic at a ramp or pulling onto the road from the shoulder, moved into the path of Vehicle #2, which swerved into the path of Vehicle #3 (the governor’s vehicle). Vehicle #1, which did not strike any other vehicles, left the scene — maybe without the driver even knowing that an accident had occurred.

[heylady]

I fully understand your comment considering the much publicized cases of accidents involving illegals lately. You just expressed your thought and I was under the impression that thats what this forum was all about.

[grey_whiskers]

Did Corzine ever express an opinion on the Terry Schiavo case?

(Oh, and incidentally...Luke 12:16-21...)

Cheers!

[Alberta's Child]

I agree with that sentiment, but in defense of those who are posting speculative questions about whether or not an illegal alien was involved in this . . . the Garden State Parkway runs through an area where there are a number of places where there have been high-profile stories about local problems with illegal immigrants -- including small cities like Freehold, Lakewood, etc. So the speculation really isn't all that outlandish.

I guess the only way to know for sure if there were illegal aliens involved would be to see if there were any eyewitnesses reporting that the red pickup truck that fled the scene had 14 people crammed into the back of it. LOL.

[Northern Alliance]

I’m not interested in how many posts you make; I, along with plenty of other people, are sick and tired of seeing that on every damn thread on this forum.

Yes, I can see now you want to rant, not deal with facts, but you are being much too over-sensitive.

[grey_whiskers]

I wonder what the fallout will be if it turns out to be an illegal that hit him.

Humbling the politicians American's won't!

Prayers up.

Cheers!

[angkor]

You're thinking of the femoral artery

No, I'm not. I'm thinking of the femur itself.

"The femur is very vascular and fractures can result in significant blood loss into the thigh. Up to 40% of isolated fractures may require transfusion."

Femur Injuries and Fractures
Article Last Updated: Jul 20, 2006

Author: Douglas F Aukerman, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Division of Sports Medicine, Penn State University

[Dianna]

This sounds rather more serious than what I read last night. I hope he recovers well. Compound fractures just sound really doggone painful. That gets sympathy from me!

[McLynnan]

If he shows signs of compartment syndrome he will have a fasciotomy to relieve the pressure. It’s possible they wanted to stabilize him before an orthopedist took him to the OR to fix the fracture. Or maybe he’s already had the fracture reduced with an internal rod and/or pins in which case regular washout of the wound is standard protocol.

[aculeus]

Corzine had been en route to Drumthwacket to moderate a meeting between radio shock jock Don Imus and members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

He could recuperate at the Ranch.

[Northern Alliance]

Hmmm. That’ll make it tough but maybe some witnesses will come forward.

[Northern Alliance]

I fully understand your comment considering the much publicized cases of accidents involving illegals lately. You just expressed your thought and I was under the impression that thats what this forum was all about.

You are very perceptive. ;-). Yes, you are right. I have no agenda - just had the thought and expressed it. Thanks for the support.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOL! I was waiting for that. ;)

[Alberta's Child]

I’m as much a “law and order” guy as anyone else, but if I were the driver of that red pickup truck I sure as hell wouldn’t come forward at this point.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Touche!

To hell with the illegal apologists.

[mware]

My brother had a compound fracture of his femur. It is one painful recovery.

I suspect Gov Corzine is going to be able to predict the weather very well with all those broken bones.

Prayers for a speedy recovery.

[toldyou]

“Does NJ have a seatbelt law?”

We sure do!

[mware]

NJ has no Lt. Governor. Cody is once again our acting governor. (He took over after McGreevy resigned.)

[the OlLine Rebel]

Especially when you consider how many Hispanics are working (in Spanish) on the NJT.

[jackieaxe]

God’s punishing Corzine for trying to make political hay on the Don Imus situation. I don’t wish him bad but...