Teresa Heinz Kerry released from hospital

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

By Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC News

Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Secretary of State John Kerry and heir to the ketchup company fortune, was released Saturday from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where she was treated for a seizure she experienced on July 7.

Doctors said they expect Heinz Kerry to complete a full recovery at home after some limited out-patient treatment, read a statement released by Kerry's spokesman Glen Johnson.

Heinz Kerry, 74, was admitted to the hospital following an experience of seizure-like symptoms at the family's Nantucket home.

"It was amazing, a miracle," Heinz Kerry said of her care and caregivers, according to the statement. "They are the kindest people, who love what they do and do it superbly well."

Read more: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/27/19719730-teresa-heinz-kerry-released-from-hospital?lite

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Hoping for a speedy recovery!

[blm]

1. Sending love and warmest wishes to one amazing lady.

.

[freshwest]

2. (((Hugs))) for the homecoming. Great news.

[CTyankee]

3. that was an awfully long hospital stay! What made it so? n/t

[karynnj]

5. They did not release a lot of information, but they did say tests

ruled out all the scariest reasons for a seizure - such as stroke, heart attack, and brain tumor. I assume that given that it was Mass General and that she is who she is, every test that could help identify why she had a seizure was done. In addition, she left the hospital and went to a place that does rehab.

I assumed that it was pretty serious when Kerry was very clearly chocked up when he thanked people for their good wishes - even wiping away a tear.

[MADem]

10. They'll respect her privacy, but that sounds like a stroke to me.

It might not have been that bad, and they may have treated her in a hurry to minimize the damage, but her hospitalization and rehab time sounds stroke-ish. She is very wealthy, so she doesn't have to "step down" to a nursing home with physical therapy, and then outpatient physical therapy with the visiting nurse--she can do all that stuff at home if she'd like with a private, round-the-clock staff.

[karynnj]

4. Great to hear - she is an incredible person in her own right

Glad to hear that she can return home.

[sheshe2]

6. Full recovery for you Teresa.

I know your family is happy to have you home.

[Cha]

7. Mahalo, BumRushDaShow.. so glad she's able to finally leave the hospital.

that would have been so scary to experience what Teresa went through.

[karynnj]

8. I'm glad for both of them that John Kerry was there with her

I couldn't imagine how tough it would have been for Kerry to get such bad news by phone hours away.

[Cha]

9. I know, karyn.. they're a team.

[hrmjustin]

11. K&R!

[crim son]

12. I'm so glad. n/t

[King_Klonopin]

13. Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but

Strokes and seizures are not typically connected.

She has no tumor. No mention of severe fever or any
neurological diagnosis. At the age of 74, this is the first
occurrence of a seizure she's ever had -- which probably
rules out epilepsy.

The most likely cause ??

Alcohol withdrawal is my first suspicion.

If you recall, there were times on the campaign trail in 2004
when she appeared "impaired", to put it kindly. People
mocked her for her odd behavior.

Spaulding Rehab used to have a drug and alcohol rehab
unit which closed a few years ago. I'm sure they can still
detox patients there. It would be less controversial and
less conspicuous to be detoxed at a rehab hospital than going
to an official "REHAB" for addictions.

If alcoholism is the problem, I would still wish her well. It is
unfortunate that celebrity-types are forced to hide because of
the shame and morality stigmata.

Just sayin'

[Hekate]

15. For someone who "hates to be a Debbie Downer" it was not necessary...

... just now.

[CTyankee]

17. well, alcoholism is a disease and can require medical attention.

It's too bad that it carries a stigma other diseases don't. I'm not saying this was alcohol related but it does happen in elderly patients. It wouldn't diminish her in my eyes. I didn't take that post as a condemnation of her.

The fact is that we are all speculating here...we really don't know and when you get right down to it, it is not really any of our business.

Poor John Kerry. I don't think I ever saw him so emotional (and a bit terrified, IMO). He seemed so upset at the thought that he might lose her...my heart goes out to both of them. They've been through a lot and it must have been a helluva scare for them.

I though it was very gracious of both of them to praise the medical professionals who cared for her and helped her get healed. That was nice...

[RudynJack]

22. The point is

there's absolutely no reason to suspect alcohol withdrawal is a factor. None. Zero. It's just a smear.

You know what they give people for alcohol withdrawal? Valium. You think Heinz-Kerry can't get her hands on valium? You think she doesn't have adequate access to medical care?

This is just a smear.

[CTyankee]

23. I guess you are a medical professional. Since I am not, I get what you say.

My point was that something related to alcohol is a possibility. And it is a medical situation and why do you care anyway? I don't see it as a smear at all. It happens to people.

But neither of us knows, do we?

[RudynJack]

24. I am not a medical professional.

Neither are you.

Why jump to the most disparaging explanation? There's NO reason to believe her condition was alcohol-related. None whatsoever. It's just bizarre to me that someone would presume it was.

[CTyankee]

25. I wasn't the first poster to suggest anything alcohol related, I merely said it was possible.

I didn't see it as disparaging her. I said it happens in elderly people.

Why does suggesting it bother you so much? I wasn't making a moral decision. A disease is a disease.

That said, yes, both I and you are speculating. We don't know. I don't believe that she has a basic moral flaw because of suffering ill health and I never suggested it.

[RudynJack]

26. On FR this week I read a number of posts

regarding Anthony Weiner and his wife. It was "suggested" that perhaps she was a victim of female genital mutilation, ya know, cuz he's Muslim. And that might've caused their "marital problems".

It was a ridiculously racist, absurd assertion with no evidence. She was born in Kalamazoo. Her father is from India. Her mother is from Pakistan - none of those places practice female circumcision. It was brought up entirely to smear her, her family and her history.

This is a similar smear. It is based on absolutely nothing. It doesn't belong here.

[CTyankee]

27. I never read FR. Much too crazy for me and I have better things to do...

I am only a bit younger than Teresa and aware of lots of different health related problems that can and do arise when you get into your early 70s. I agree with you that smears do not belong here and I'm sorry you feel that my post in any way lays a moral judgment on her. Personally, I don't believe her health problem is alcohol related, but I don't really know and it isn't any of my business anyway.

That FR story is why I avoid that website like the plague. It's a real stretch to imagine such a thing, but it fits with the RW's odd obsession with the sex lives of liberals. They must lead terrible lives themselves to be conjuring up stuff like that...

[karynnj]

29. Why even consider it when the reports do not suggest it at all?

Not to mention - the rehab place has no unit which does that - and the idea of having her where they don't do that just to keep it private makes no sense. Why not have her and them in one of her many homes?

Not to mention, if it was alcoholism, why would they transport her to MGH, which made it look more serious and why do all those tests?

Not to mention, Teresa has accompanied him on several SOS trips. There is no way that would have happened unless Kerry thought her presence would help as it has in the past.

[CTyankee]

30. I mentioned it because it was on my mind at the moment. I had been having a phone conversation with

with my daughter and the illness of her husband's late father came up. Drinking had been a contributing factor to his death. I felt very sorry for him and my son in law. And I was having real concerns about a woman friend, age 70, who was taking her widowhood last spring very hard.

Personally, I don't think this was what ailed Teresa, partly because she's a European and probably has a nuanced view of alcohol that many Americans don't seem to have. And you make very good points in your post, things I didn't know but now do. Thank you for really shedding light on her situation.

What I guess I struggle with is considering alcoholism per se as a moral failing instead of treating it as a disease the way we treat other diseases. And that has nothing to do with Teresa.

Thanks again for the info. I think it is interesting that she has accompanied Kerry on his SOS trips. That is very touching and, I am sure, comforting to him. Her illness must have been awful for him as well as for her....

[RudynJack]

16. Oh please...

that's really the first thing you can think of? How odd.

[Paladin]

21. Really uncalled for. Take your unfounded smear tactics elsewhere. (nt)

[karynnj]

28. Only the far right wing has ever said that she appeared "impaired"

Last edited Mon Jul 29, 2013, 03:05 PM - Edit history (1)

Teresa was a speaker at many many events in 2004 - and many are on CSPAN. I know many people - including myself who saw her at campaign events or the book events. It is pathetic that you repeat this. It is really sad that finding that the place she went did not do drug or alcohol rehab that you suggest they did it just for her. In fact, had it been private just for her rehab that they wanted to keep private - wouldn't they just bring the people to one of her estates? Wouldn't the various Hollywood people who need it also do it privately?

In addition, she for years worked long hours doing very interesting, creative things with her foundation. In 2009, when the G20 was in Pittsburgh there were many articles on Pittsburgh. Two things were covered in many of them. One is that Pittsburgh, a former steel town, was one of the greenest in the country -- and the person most credited was Teresa, who before almost anyone was building green had her offices built as green as possible and many, liking what she did, did the same. In addition, buildings that got money from her foundation were green buildings. More impressive, they spoke of how in the mid 1990s, when Pittsburgh was very depressed, she called the other Pittsburgh philanthropists and led them in working together to use their grant money essentially as a stimulus package and in the process both cleaned up and revitalized Pittsburgh. (OMG that means she helped the 99%!)

[CTyankee]

31. My Boston son in law is a political consultant (a Dem) who did focus groups in 3 states during the

2004 campaign for Kerry's campaign (John Marttila's consulting firm). He never mentioned anything remotely hinting that Teresa was ever impaired.

[karynnj]

32. Thank you for posting this personal source of information

I think that Teresa was actually smeared worse than her husband, because if her accomplishments were shown and people knew more of her values, like any wife, she would be another character witness for her husband.

[CTyankee]

34. my s.i.l. was surprised that Teresa's unfavorable rate was so high in Wisconsin.

Personally, I think this country wasn't ready for a feisty, foreign born first lady. It seems odd to me but I can't think of why people in Wisconsin that he sampled didn't like her, so that's my only guess...

[karynnj]

35. I think it was the information that they were given

You know how much I admired both Kerrys and you know that I do research things, yet I knew very very little about her accomplishments in 2004. I did know that she ran the Heinz Foundations, but I had no idea the unique and very productive way she did things. I learned that she essentially led the revitalization of Pittsburgh only in 2009 when there were articles when the G20 was there. It was only in a BG article this month that I learned that the MA drug plan was created after her foundation ran a prototype that they had proposed.

The Democratic party and the Kerry campaign likely would have done better had they done more to define her - rather than fearing xenophobia. The Republican image is shocking different than the brilliant, soft spoken, woman who had a wonderful smile and a face where expressions changed in milliseconds. (Just consider that the Republicans made some the very few pictures where this classic beauty looked awful among the most commonly seen - though this sounds petty, it did affect her image -- and that affected his.

I think they really should have gone with an ad that was centered on environmental issues that spoke of how they met when Teresa was the Bush appointed non governmental delegate to the Rio conference. They could have mentioned that she was asked because of the work that she led in transforming Pittsburgh from a dirty steel town to one of the greenest cities in the country. They then could have spoken of Kerry being there and having been on the committee Gore headed that held first global warming hearings. and the fact that he had the best lifetime score in the Senate from the League of Conservation voters. They could then return to Teresa to mention that she also was a live long environmentalist.

(The real messages - Teresa is very accomplished - enough that Bush 1 appointed her. It also shows one major interest that they shared brought them together. It counters so many Republicans smears about them and it is a very nice story of two people finding each other through the purposeful work they were doing. )

[CTyankee]

37. I love it, but the repukes have long made environmental issues seem "toxic" to what they think of as

the "average" American. They turn a positive into a negative, just look at the whole Swift Boat thing. God, that was a toxic campaign, downright nasty, from start to finish. Xenophobic is exactly right...only on steroids in that campaign. I was never so depressed about politics as I was after that campaign. I always say that if it hadn't been for DU and Stephanie Miller and her mooks at the beginning of 2005 I would have been on tranquilizers...

[karynnj]

38. Quite agree -- that's why I think that it's main purpose would

be to subtly educate people on Teresa's accomplishments and to get people (especially women) to implicitly see what really was an unexpected love story.


I wonder if something like that could have been used very sparingly - maybe right before the convention. Kerry did speak about environmental issues every day -- and EVERY 2008 candidate used his words that fighting climate change could be good for national security, the economy, health and the environment - John McCain almost copied verbatim when he met with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[CTyankee]

39. I guess that it took having someone as truly revolutionary as the political ascendance of Barack

Obama to make historical change. While Rove and his minions could work their evil designs on the electorate against John and Teresa, they were simply unable to respond to a black man running for president. They just didn't know how. And now Rove has been turned into a blithering idiot...about time...

[Tanuki]

33. You are totally wrong.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/733423_3

..."Causes
Cerebrovascular disease, primary neurodegenerative disorders, brain tumors and traumatic head injury, are the most commonly identified etiologies in patients with late-onset epilepsy.[13] However, the underlying cause of epilepsy cannot be identified in up to 50% of elderly people (termed 'cryptogenic').[14]....

.....Stroke is the leading cause of new-onset epilepsy beyond aged 65 years of age, accounting for 50–75% of epilepsy cases where a cause can be identified.[13] Post-stroke epilepsy usually develops within 3–12 months; the seizure risk increases 20-fold in the first year after a stroke,[16] but may still occur many years later.[17,18] Epilepsy and seizures are more likely after hemorrhagic than ischemic strokes: 80% compared with 5% developing seizures within 2 weeks, respectively.[19] A pragmatic approach for elderly patients developing new-onset seizures should include a thorough assessment for cerebrovascular risk factors.".....

[Sheldon Cooper]

40. What an ugly post.

Based on nothing, I might add. Shame on you.

[Hekate]

14. Best wishes, Teresa, and get well soon

You do a lot of good in this world.

[midnight]

18. K&R This women shares her acknowledgement of the work that many do without a pension, job security

aka TPP and work visa's keep their incomes low.... Could you imagine work visa's keeping Wall Streets salaries low... And Ms. Heinz Kerry's gratefulness towards those who helped make her recovery possible is something all American's deserve too...

And I agree with her 100 percent.....Our nurses and other health care professionals are miracle workers...

[CTyankee]

19. Recently, I was the beneficiary of excellent physical therapy, tailored to my specific

health care needs. My PT got me out of pain and prescribed exercises to do at home (which I faithfully do every day). I went for PT for several weeks, got pain free and not needing painkillers and learned how to take care of my spinal arthritis. I am forever grateful to Ms. Herrera, my therapist, who showed me the way to maintaining a healthy spine to the degree I could and given certain limitations on the kind of exercise I could do. I know people complain about PT as "physical torture" but I was glad to go through it and just applied myself.

I just wish I could give my therapist a HUGE pay raise!

[treestar]

20. Good to know

I hope she makes a full recovery.

[politicasista]

36. Sounds good

Sending more positive vibes to Momma T and the family.