Sen. Johnson's Progress 'Encouraging'

South Dakota Democrat's Condition Improving After Emergency Brain Surgery

(CBS/AP)  Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson has opened his eyes and shown other small signs of recovery from brain surgery that are encouraging to his family, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Congressional visitors continued to come to the hospital and comfort family members as the South Dakota senator's progress was closely watched across Washington. His sudden illness raised questions about the Democrats' one-vote majority in the upcoming Senate session.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid visited Johnson, 59, at George Washington University Hospital again Friday and said he looked “good, fine.” Senate Chaplain Barry Black also came by.

Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage Wednesday that was caused by an uncommon and sometimes fatal condition, and underwent surgery late into the night.

Johnson’s office reports that the senator remains in the ICU in critical but stable condition.

“Considering his initial presentation, his progress is encouraging,” Dr. Anthony Caputy said, according to a news release issued by Johnson’s office. “He is now stabilized and continues to show signs of responsiveness to the medical staff and the family.”

Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, who performed the surgery, added in the release that “His most recent CT Scan shows that the pressure has been relieved from his brain and there is no further bleeding. Currently his brain pressures are normal and we will continue to monitor this closely for several days.”

He was responding to the voice of his wife, Barbara, and following directions a few hours after the surgery. When she asked him to open his eyes, he did, and then reached out to hold her hand, said Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher.

“They are just very encouraged by the little things right now,” Fisher said Friday.

The senator's two sons, Brooks and Brendan, who live out of town, flew in to be with their father. Johnson's daughter Kelsey lives in Washington.

“I can't imagine how important that was for Barbara to be there at a time in which they started to have him come around and that just makes us all feel better,” said South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, who has been following Johnson's progress from Sioux Falls.

Rounds, a Republican, would be charged with appointing a replacement if Johnson were to leave office.

A Republican appointee would create a 50-50 tie and effectively allow the GOP to retain Senate control because of Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote.

Rounds said he was praying for Johnson's recovery.

“My first thought was, is my friend Tim Johnson in trouble, and then I thought about his wife and about his family and what must be going through their minds,” said Rounds, who declined to talk about what he might do if he had to name a replacement.

The White House also offered hopes and prayers for Johnson.

Press Secretary Tony Snow said the White House has made a number of attempts to contact Barbara Johnson. He said the White House has not been in contact with Rounds.

“This is a time to pray for Tim Johnson's health, and I'll leave it to others to start doing political calculations,” Snow said.

Reid, D-Nev., who is to become majority leader when the new Senate convenes Jan. 4, has visited Johnson at the hospital each day, sometimes more than once.

Other senators have stopped by. Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., visited Thursday, as did Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., was at the hospital Friday.

Johnson was in critical condition but was described as recovering and stable on Thursday. The senator was on “an uncomplicated postoperative course,” the U.S. Capitol physician said after visiting him Thursday afternoon.

“He has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required,” said the physician, Adm. John Eisold.

Doctors said it was too early to say whether further surgery would be needed later.

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said the question now, if Johnson continues to recover, "is when will he be able to come back on the job."

Historically, "senators in both parties have given a lot of leeway to people with illnesses like this," Schieffer said. "When Sen. Biden had surgery in 1988, for example, no one questioned he was going to be off the job for several months. They waited until he was able to come back and he recovered completely. I think you will see something like that. There will be no push to force him to resign or something like that."

Johnson’s office said it expected the senator to continue to be hospitalized “until brain swelling goes down and his overall condition improves. As he presented with weakness on his right side, doctors anticipate that physical therapy will be part of recovery."

Democrats are preparing to take control of the Senate with a 51-49 majority when the new Congress convenes in three weeks. Democrats seized control of both the House and Senate from Republicans in the Nov. 7 midterm elections.

The symptoms first surfaced during a telephone conference call with reporters on Wednesday, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. In the middle of answering a question, Johnson began to falter.

Johnson was rushed to the George Washington University Hospital where he was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, a condition that causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large, become tangled and sometimes burst. The condition often is present from birth.

Eisold, the Capitol physician, said doctors stopped bleeding in Johnson's brain and drained the blood that had accumulated there.

Dr. William Bank, who treats AVMs and other neurovascular disorders at Washington Hospital Center, said Johnson may need more surgery.

“It probably is not over,” Bank said. “For a complete removal of an AVM, you need to be doing your surgery under ideal circumstances,” not when the defect is actively bleeding.

On Thursday afternoon, Johnson underwent an additional procedure to prevent blood clots. The procedure is standard after surgery, said Julianne Fisher, Johnson's spokeswoman.

Senate historian Donald Ritchie said senators serve out their terms unless they resign or die. Senators have remained in the Senate even though illness kept them away from the chamber for long periods.

Arteriovenous malformation is believed to affect about 300,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The institute's Web site said only about 12 percent of those have any symptoms.

It's common to take several days to wake up after AVM surgery, said Dr. Sean Grady, neurosurgery chairman at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Someone who is awake and talking in the first day or two typically has a shorter recovery — in the range of four weeks to eight weeks, he said.

[bluestardad]

If he only has half his brain he is smarter and better than the Republicans or Bush!

[jw218389]

Did they check him for Pollonium? What's good for ex-commies (Putin) is probably good Republicans too! I wouldn't put it past them!

God Save America from BUSH...

[randalds]

CBS radio does not equal FOX news. In case you can't compute-FOX does not equal CBS. OK? Just a little letter lesson for ya, big guy. Now, elist does equal democrat. Thanks there to frankly6.

Posted by janem4 at 09:56 PM : Dec 16, 2006

That's true. One is a serious news organization and the other is the propaganda wing of the RNC. Oh and I was nice enough to toss you a nice fat softball by saying democrats were elitist and you credit frankly6! Sccceeeesssshhhh!

[vancouverboo]

God bless him and his family.

[fascistusa]

America is a FASCIST NATION.

Not a Democracy.

BOTH Parties are CORRUPT and ONLY represent the RICH.

How can you equate Religion, God, and biblical understanding while knowing the people in power are the Anti-God, Truly Twisted & Evil, and the oppressors of all Mankind?

Merry Christmas!

[randalds]

More and more good news everyday. No matter where you come down politically, good democrat or follower of the dark side, you have to be happy for him and his family.

Hurry back Tim Johnson, we miss and need you

[grumpas]

a5150jeffro! Jealous????? Most Republican's don't even have a brain to operate on! The surgeon would have to close it back up and throw up his hands at the jumbled up mess that exists there in place of a brain! No doubt Rush and Billo have destroyed many a Republican brain with their brand of pollution! Most of us former Republican's grew up in the 80's and moved past the hate monger's! Maybe it's time for you to do the same a5150jeffro!

[adian1-2009]

I pray devotedly for Senator Johnson's recovery. And as part of my prayer I beg God not to allow a Republican majority in our Senate to happen again during the present administration. Our Good God, with McCain and Company there!!! With so many conservative and religious fundamentalist appointments still pending, and others that would come, it would be a greater disgrace for our rights and liberties!!Among other disgraces, naturally!!!!

[sty1]

I will ask God to help you keep voting. The whole world needs you to recover. Just do it...Get Well.

[mbburch06]

The only fascists in this country are those trying to tell people they can't smoke in a bar, eat at a restaurant that uses trans fat, or own a gun in their own homes. It has nothing to do with Bush or Cheney.

[rharrin1]

a5150jeffro

Good thing you've got that keyboard to hide behind, you're just as brave as bush and cheney

[a5150jeffro]

I doubt if a brain operation will fix a Democrat.

[fascistusa]

Let's see what I have done in an attempt to stop American Fascism.

Moved to the heart of Fascist America - Virginia.

Opened a store. Told everyone who came there about the Fascism. Kids, college students, and adults. It begins with the proles - 1984 Orwell.

Told my whole Family. 3 cousins who served in VietIraq. They're kinda pissed. 4 retired military officers, too. We're ALL pissed.

Told all my online customers. All over the world.

Even had a visit from the SS - Secret Service.

I regret I have but one life to give for my FAMILY - JFK

[fascistusa]

You know what? I think it's time to do what my Forefathers did:

Civil War.

I even had Family in the Revolutionary War.

Are those War Drums I hear beating?

[lestb35]

I think both parties have been hijacked with elitists from the Hollywood filthy rich on the left to the CEO corporate mega rich on the right. It's almost impossible for the people to be heard. The left definately does not represent the people of this country they want to make us all dependent on their endless supply of nanny govt. and the right glommed onto the Christians in an attempt to "represent" mainstream America but does nothing for them. Maybe fascistusa is right, we are slaves to corporate America. And if you're not on board (small business) you're out.

[randalds]

janem4

What is an elitest?


Posted by frankly6 at 06:13 PM : Dec 15, 2006

Any democrat.

[frankly6]

janem4

What is an elitest?

[pakaal]

fascistUSA - so, the result of all this vitriole against what you call Fascist USA, and all your rage against the elite, "the MAN" as you put it, leads you to... post comments on the CBS boards?! Impressive.

[fascistusa]

You all can go to hell.

I know America is a Fascist Country.

We are NOT a Democracy.

Why should I care if the elite, the oligarchy, the RICH, the MAN dies?

I'm a white, highly educated (not worth the paper it is printed on) PISSED OFF slave to the Government.

I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'm NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!