Tim Johnson Update

[Dinger]

I'm not exactly encouraged.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061228/ap_on_go_co/johnson

Let's hope for the best.

[Roland99]

1. "overall condition has improved and he is gradually being weaned off sedation"

Sounds encouraging to me.

[Dinger]

2. Good

I'm not exactly discouraged either. There is some hopeful news in the article.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. The article said he would miss a few days.

He'll miss the first days of the new congress. I don't know what "first days" means, but it makes it sound like he will get back to work pretty quick. I guess I'm skeptical about the how quickly he'll assume his duties.

All we can do is hope for a good recovery.

[AtomicKitten]

4. From what I could ascertain from his doctors' description

of his condition, the AVM affected the side of the brain that deals with speech. He appears to be responding neurologically but will probably have a long course of rehabilitation. He survived what could have been a catastrophic event. I think there is definitely reason to be hopeful. And there's not a damn thing the Republicans can do to take his seat in the meantime.

[lapfog_1]

5. They just took him off the pain meds (knock out drugs) yesterday...

So what he hasn't said anything yet... I bet they have tubes shoved down his throat too.

He has been a little bit responsive to his wife, so he must not be a vegetable or even completely out of it.

Just a bit more and he COULD go vote (they let one Senator point to his eye to vote "aye"). But he isn't needed for any votes anytime soon. He could, I believe, stay in the hospital and never vote on any issue for the entire term. His vote would be missed on occasion, but for the critical leadership and committee assignments his vote is NOT needed. Ever. Just so long as he doesn't die.

Of course, I hope he makes a fully and rapid recovery. And he is making good progress. There was nothing in that article that is cause for much concern.

[WI_DEM]

6. the less optimistic statement comes at the end where a doctor

says that two weeks sedated is "longer than I would be happy with."

[sharp_stick]

7. That's probably because

you never want to keep somebody sedated longer than they need to be. It increases the chances for some serious secondary problems. There are many reasons he could have been sedated that long from pressure on the brain to seizures

The thing that encourages me is that he is responsive to commands and his wife. All good signs that his brain is functioning and his memory is intact. Although it's a pretty big impairment, getting his voice back is for later.