Posted on 04/20/2007 12:00:47 PM PDT by Omega Man II
BREAKING NEWS: Corzine still critical, on ventilator
By GEOFF MULVIHILL, Associated Press
Posted Friday, April 20, 2007 at 2:08 pm
CAMDEN — Though top staffers hoped early on that Gov. Jon S. Corzine would be back on the job about a week after a car crash on the Garden State Parkway, it's become clear there are no quick fixes for the governor's injuries.
He remained on a ventilator and in critical but stable condition today, more than a week after badly hurting his leg and chest.
The last major medical milestone came Monday, when doctors performed the third and final scheduled surgery on his broken left thigh bone. That's also about the time the governor's aides stopped saying he'd be back in a hurry.
The next milestone is expected to be when the 60-year-old governor is able to breathe without the help of a ventilator. His staff said Thursday that he was relying less and less on the breathing tube, but neither they nor his doctors have said when it's likely to be removed.
Corzine was riding in the front passenger seat of a Chevrolet Suburban on the Garden State Parkway on April 12 when his SUV veered into a guard rail after being clipped by another driver who was swerving to avoid a third vehicle.
The governor's SUV, with a state trooper behind the wheel, was traveling 91 mph seconds before the crash and Corzine was not wearing a seat belt, officials have said.
Corzine was the only person seriously injured. He broke his left thigh bone in two places -- requiring three surgeries so far -- as well as 11 ribs, his breastbone and collarbone. He also fractured a vertebra and has a cut on his forehead that required stitches.
Though he lost about half the blood in his body, there was no brain damage or injuries to internal organs, and Corzine is not paralyzed, his doctors said. His brain function is as good as anyone's could be while on a ventilator, they added.
When Corzine first arrived at the hospital, doctors said he was able to talk about the accident. But soon, the breathing tube was inserted into his throat and he has not been able to speak since. However, he can communicate by nodding his head.
Besides the three surgeries on his broken leg, doctors have inserted tubes into his chest to drain fluid from his lungs. They have also put catheters into his back to deliver a local anesthetic to the area around his broken ribs.
State Senate President Richard J. Codey is serving as acting governor.
seat belts save lives.
doesn’t sound too good.
I have a feeling it is a lot worse than they are leading on.
BTW I hope he gets better. I don't want liberals dead, just defeated.
a few days ago a very detailed injury list was posted w/ Dr’s comments.......Corzine is way serious and frankly fights for his life hourly
Cue the Monty Python Parrot sketch.
Wow, 11 broken ribs, broken collarbone and sternum, no wonder he’s on a ventilator, and I imagine the pain from just breathing is horrendous.
Get well, Governor.
and broken breastplate
Despite every effort the doctors have not been able to remove the ventilator.
If he had not been airlifted to a level one trauma center it is doubtful he would have survived the night.
His recovery is still in doubt as he is not able to expand his lungs to breathe properly.
I’m sorry Mr. Corzine is such a bad condition. If only he’d been wearing his seat belt!
He’s damned lucky to be alive. If he’d been in anything smaller than that eeeeeeeevil Suburban, or without a passenger-side airbag, he might not’ve lived.
Now, does anybody think that he’ll learn a lesson from this?
}:-)4
The Governor and the Princess of Wales.
I haven’t been following this story, and the last I heard was that he only suffered a broken leg and would be fine.
Prayers going up for Gov. Corzine.
Reminder - always wear your seatbelt and drive carefully!
If I understand correctly in this case, had he worn a seat belt, he would have died in the crash. A steel guard rail came up through the floor of the car right where he was sitting.
So if I may modify your warning :
Speed kills (91 miles per hour to meet Imus??)
He should resign. Aside from the fact he is a miserable example, he will never be well enought to resume the task.
He got his trophy job and should just drift off into insignificance.
I think they've been misleading people from the beginning.
True?
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