Posted on 01/09/2007 11:48:56 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Sen. Tim Johnson (news, bio, voting record)'s condition has been upgraded from critical to fair, four weeks after he was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage, his office said Tuesday.
The South Dakota Democrat, who was rushed to the hospital on Dec. 13 and underwent emergency surgery, remains in intensive care, said his spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher.
"The senator continues to make progress," Fisher said. "The next step would be rehabilitation and we hope that would happen within the week."
Johnson's office has said that his recovery is expected to take several months. He underwent surgery to correct a condition called arteriovenous malformation, involving tangled arteries in his brain.
The senator's doctors said last week that Johnson was improving but still needed a ventilator at night to help him breathe. The ventilator has required a tube to be placed down Johnson's throat, making it impossible for him to talk.
His long-term prognosis is unclear. He has been responsive to his family and physicians, following commands, squeezing his wife's hand and understanding speech.
The senator's sudden illness raised questions about the Democrats' one-vote majority in the upcoming Senate session. South Dakota's Republican governor, Mike Rounds, would appoint a replacement if Johnson's seat were vacated by his death or resignation.
A Republican appointee would create a 50-50 tie and could effectively allow the GOP to retain Senate control because of Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote.
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) makes a stop on a drought tour at the Oahe Grain Elevator in Onida, South Dakota, in this August 9, 2006 file photo. Johnson, whose brain surgery fueled speculation about upcoming Democratic control of the U.S. Senate, has improved and is being taken off sedatives, aides said on Thursday. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
"His long-term prognosis is unclear. He has been responsive to his family and physicians, following commands, squeezing his wife's hand and understanding speech."
good news - prayers for a full and speedy recovery.
Ditto.
Do fair condition and intensive care jibe?
Any response is a good sign at this point, that was a major event brain-wise. It may take some time to see the full extent of the damage he may have sustained. He likely faces a long tough road to recovery in any case.
...ventilator?
Hey, considering what he went thru, in this case, probably not. I hear what you're saying.
He is still very much in a guarded condition any way ya cut it. He uses a respirator at night and still needs close monitoring.
In other words, the Senator's condition is unchanged from last week, but he is in no immediate threat of death. I hope life gets better for him. They still haven't said whether he has opened his eyes.
Right.
I wish his brush with death will help him see the light and become a republican and help stop the twisted party he is a member of.
Thanks onyx...
Prayers for further recuperation...
Oh, no! He's already better than Robert Byrd.
God bless Senator Johnson and his family.
The (endotracheal) tube would have been placed prior to surgery, and not removed since. Patients cannot well tolerate an endotracheal tube through their mouth or nose for four weeks, and so within the last four weeks Johnson likely has had a tracheostomy placed. Patient's can talk with a fensestrated tracheostomy tube, which allows air movement. Even if the tracheostomy did not allow air movement, if his cognitive condition allowed him to talk, he could mouth words.
Since any positive Johnson developments appear to make news right away, that we have not heard that he is mouthing words, or writing notes, etc. would likely indicate that he is medically stable, on a trach, and largely uncommunicative. Four weeks after a brain hemorrhage, this doesn't sound particularly promising for a full or rapid recovery.
Good news for him and his family.
Apparently all those FReeper prayers for his health are paying off!
Thanks for that assessment. That is pretty much how I am reading this.
Sounds about right. Which is too bad, in a way; he has been one of the best (or least offensive) Dems out there.
I agree with your assessment and send up continued prayers for Senator Johnson and his family. On a political note, I think in the long run his unfortunate illness will end up hurting the Democrats. If it turns out that he completes the remaining two years of his term without ever having been physically able to serve as the Senator from South Dakota, it will show that the Democrats were much more concerned with maintaining their majority than making sure the people of South Dakota have the representation in the Senate to which they are entitled.
Not too unkind here. . .just what I wish.
Seriously doubt the governor has expressed this.
He won't be coming back to the Senate .. and if he does, it will be a miracle
Sending more prayers for Senator Johnson and his family
I doubt they will start rehabilitation until he is out of ICU...
BUMP, Mo.
Me too.
On the other hand if he recovers enough to resume his duties then he's the man who came back from a life-threatening illness, driven solely by his desire to serve the people of the great state of South Dakota, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah, sure, we'll give the brave so-and-so another term.
It can cut both ways. Only time will tell.
January 5, 2009. When his term is over. There is nothing in the Constitution requiring him to step down, and no provision for temporary replacements.
I wish him full recovery. I also delight in the rats having to worry about losing the Senate for the next 2 years. One more thing, ha ha.
I heard all the things Kennedy said this session would address, and, (you can't make this stuff up), one of them was OBESITY!
This article is cognitively dissonant. It says he uses a respirator at night with tube down his throat, but that he can't talk -- at all. So, if there is no respirator during the day and he can't talk, what does that say? We are being deceived, people.
Teddy on the floor, hmmm that seems likely.
Teddy on the floor, hmmm that seems likely.
I, hickup, repeat meself.
If this poor fellow is still intubated after almost a month he is a likely candidate for a tracheotomy. He is also likely on a ventilator all day just for the pressure support needed.
Being an an ICU for this long can hardly be called a "fair" condition.
He has a long and winding road to recovery ahead of him I'm afraid.
He uses the vent only to help him sleep now. Prayers going up from this staunch Republican for recovery of this gentle man Democrat.
How much did this upgrade cost the 'RATs?
"...one of them was OBESITY!"
Maybe he wants the government to pay for his trip to a fat farm?
Not sure how conditions are determined, but I thought it was a risk assessment rather than recovery potential. Fair might mean that death from his injuries is no longer a likely occurance.
As for the ICU designation, that probably has more to do with the ventilator. My understanding is that until a patient is weaned from the vent, they will remain in ICU, so they will recieve constant monitoring. If the vent is determined to be permanently necessary, they can be discharged from ICU. Most likely they are confident that he will be weaned from the vent, and are keeping him in ICU until that occurs.
I am not sure why they say he is unable to talk due to the vent. Most are able to attempt communication, although they cannot talk. they usually try. If he isn't trying to talk, that isn't a good sign. They may jsut be trying to create reasonable expectations in the press, given his position.
With him being unable to cast votes, doesnt this make the dems MINO's, majority in name only?
Continued prayers for his full and speedy recovery, as well as comfort and strength for his family and friends.
Yes....if you are a senator...
No.
50 to 49.
Without Johnson
In the entire 215 years of the Sente there hasn't been a single instance where a sitting senator was forced outof thesenate due to incapacity or illness. Not once. There have eben several instances where a wholly incapacitated Senator remained as a senator despite his inability to particpate in the Senate process. Ironically, one of them was Senator Karl Mundt of South Dakota.
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