Posted on 03/29/2005 2:10:23 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
Jerry Falwell in Critical Condition
U.S. National - AP
By BOB LOWRY, Associated Press Writer
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Rev. Jerry Falwell was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday, battling his second case of viral pneumonia in just five weeks, hospital and church officials said.
Falwell, 71, was admitted to Lynchburg General Hospital shortly before midnight Monday suffering from "respiratory arrest," the hospital said in a statement.
He was put on a ventilator and stabilized but remained in critical condition, the hospital said.
"He's resting comfortably and in stable condition," said Ron Godwin, Falwell's executive assistant. "It's a recurrence of the viral pneumonia."
Falwell, the founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University, had left the hospital March 4 after 13 days, spending part of the time on a ventilator.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Falwell said he was feeling much better, but still recovering from his hospital stay.
Falwell had been in the pulpit Easter Sunday at Thomas Road Baptist Church and appeared in good health, said the Rev. Dave Randlett, a senior associate pastor.
"He always looks `up' so you wouldn't know if he wasn't" feeling well, Randlett said. "He was very optimistic."
An avid sports fan, Falwell had made the trip to Chattanooga, Tenn., on Saturday to see Liberty University's team play in the third round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament. The team lost. He also had been in the crowd March 22 when it won in the second round in College Park, Md.
I think you're right. Never mind! I was thinking Tennessee. Maybe I should read the whole article next time. :^)
I had the privilege of sitting beside Dr. Falwell at a small conference dinner in Lynchburg five years ago. He told me that earlier in the day he had officiated at the funeral of one of the thousands who attend Thomas Road Baptist, and, since the deceased had few family, he had asked the secretaries to call up members to ask them to go to the service so that the family might be supported.
It was then that I realized that despite the public limelight Dr. Falwell had a profoundly pastoral heart, and that this genuine love for people is what motivated him to critique the public policies and social movements that were causing harm to the people he loved.
"To live is Christ, to die is gain. Whether then we live or die, we are the Lord's."
[/sarcasm][/bad taste]
Spoken like a true "defender" of free speech.
We sure don't want people running around speaking opinions with which we disagree.
Just kidding ... I hope this fine gentleman gets over this ASAP, and offer up a prayer for his well-being.
I didn't even say I disagree with him that much. But there are some people that are so polarizing that they make us look bad. In the last year of being Speaker, I wished Newt Gingrich would have kept his mouth shut more too. Doesn't mean I disagreed with him, but many people would not listen to the message just because they disliked the person delivering it.
Yep...he seems to be a genuinely good guy...MUD
A day after the Rev. Jerry Falwell was admitted to Lynchburg General Hospital, his condition has been upgraded from critical to serious but stable.
Falwell suffered acute congestive heart failure, Dr. Joseph Khoury said at a press conference Wednesday morning. Falwell was not breathing when his wife brought him to the emergency room shortly before midnight Monday. He was placed on a ventilator but is now breathing on his own, Khoury said.
Falwell, 71, is pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and chancelor of Liberty University. He was hospitalized from Feb. 20 to March 4 with pneumonia.
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