AP: Anniversary of Tim Johnson's brain hemorrhage: then and now

[Bumblebee]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Ailing-Senator-One-Year-Later.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Sen. Johnson Getting Back on His Feet
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 9:09 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The last thing Sen. Tim Johnson remembers about Dec. 13, 2006, is arriving at the hospital in an ambulance. After that, his memory begins to fade.

The South Dakota Democrat suffered a brain hemorrhage that day, setting off a furious round of speculation about whether the balance of Congress would shift. Senate Democrats had just won a one-vote majority in the November elections, and the senator's death could have passed control of the chamber back to Republicans.

But Johnson held on.

...

A year later, Johnson, 60, is settling back into his Senate routine and preparing to run for re-election. His speech is slurred, but has improved noticeably since he first returned to work in September. His right side is weak and he uses a scooter to travel long distances in the Capitol. He can walk, though, and increasingly uses his cane to get around his office and his home.

As weeks pass, Johnson appears increasingly comfortable in interviews and conversations. He hasn't missed a vote yet, despite some long nights in the Senate.

Johnson, who is also a cancer survivor, says his doctors are amazed at his recovery.

[Botany]

1. He hasn't missed a vote yet

Way to go Tim. You have more fans than you know.

[Horse with no Name]

2. I wish they were all as dedicated to the political process

as he is.

[Botany]

3. Look @ all the repugs quiting now that Reid & Pelosi are making them work

W/ a cane & slurred speech Tim has made every vote.

[wellstone dem]

4. A good man. nt

[Cha]

5. WE were all

so worried about Senator Tim Johnson when it happened and now look..how far he's come. I'm so happy for him and his family must be ecstatic!