Senator Tim Johnson with Congenital Arteriovenous Malformation
December 14, 2006 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
In certain professions, having a health problem could mean the end of your career. Politicians,like Tony Blair or Bill Clinton, risk seeming weak or unable to do their job. Today, Senator Tim Johnson had to undergo surgery for an intracerebral bleed (in the brain) related to a congenital arteriovenuous malformation in which the arteries and veins become tangled and unable to deliver oxygen-rich blood. In Senator Johnson’s case, the tangle burst and caused a stroke.
Johnson became disoriented while on a conference call with South Dakota and regional reporters at about 11:45 a.m. Washington time yesterday, according to Noah Pinegar, an aide to the senator.
Johnson appeared to stutter in response to a question, then seemed to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before signing off, the Associated Press reported.
Johnson later walked with aides from the Capitol back to his office in the Hart Senate Office Building, a distance of about two city blocks, Pinegar said. Aides called the Capitol’s attending physician, and Johnson was later taken by ambulance to the hospital. Johnson was conscious and talking throughout, Pinegar said.
His illness and potential resignation could mean a tie in the Senate rather than the 51-49 Democratic majority with his presence. Senator Johnson is 59 years old.
Bloomberg.com, December 14, 2006
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