[SmithL]

Call for help

Here are excerpts of a 911 call made Sunday around 6:30 a.m. by state Sen. Ophelia Ford.

Operator: What's the problem ma'am? Tell me exactly what happened.

Ford: I haven't eaten in about a week and I can't stop shaking. I think I got a blood infection.

Operator: How old are you?

Ford: 56 almost 57. (Her birthday is July 5, 1950.)

Operator: Just one moment ma'am ... Are you breathing normally?

Ford: No.

Operator: Are you having difficulty breathing?

Ford: Yes. I don't have any strength.

Operator: Are you having difficulty speaking between breaths?

Ford: Yes.

Operator: Are you clammy?

Ford: Yes.

Operator: Do you have any history of heart problems?

Ford: Yes. It's being looked at.

Operator: Do you have asthma?

Ford: No. I have bronchitis.

(The operator asks Ford to unlock her front door and wait for help.)

Ford: It's gonna take me a little while to get to the door.

Operator: OK, well you go on and start heading to the door. But, uh, if anything changes, you give us a call back immediately, OK. We are on the way. Thank you.

[mewzilla]

"She needs to start being honest with everyone -- our family, the news media, everyone," Ford said.

Starting with herself...

[SmithL]

This woman needs more help than she can get from her family.

A lot more.

[P-40]

according to a tape of the emergency call.

There is something a little sleazy about routinely releasing calls like this.

[Sybeck1]

I heard on Rock 103 in Memphis today that Ford had FIVE packed suitcases ready when the ambulance arrived to pick her up.

[cripplecreek]

The woman doesn’t appear to understand what 911 is for.

[tioga]

Delirium tremors?

[GailA]

She said she wasn’t in the hospital...her memory is so bad she can no longer remember going to the hospital much less being hospitalized.