WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., was in critical condition Saturday and resting from brain surgery. "At this point, no news is good news," said the senator's spokesman, Noah Pinegar.
Johnson's condition has appeared to improve since the surgery at the George Washington University Hospital. Johnson has responded to voices, opened his eyes and moved his limbs. Surgeons said in a statement Friday that the senator was experiencing post-surgery swelling in his brain, but they said that was normal.
| That will be managed by drugs; in extreme cases they have to re-operate. But indeed, some swelling is typical. This will go down over the next several days. |
Johnson's doctors also disclosed that when he arrived at the hospital, Johnson felt weakness on his right side. That condition probably will require physical therapy as part of his recovery.
| Also tells us that the AVM was on the left side in the distribution of the middle cerebral artery. |
South Dakota GOP Gov. Mike Rounds said people were standing behind the stricken lawmaker and he urged patience during Johnson's recovery. "It just happens that we have one of our friends, one of our colleagues, who is going through a tough time. When that happens, we stand by him. And that's exactly what the people of South Dakota will do." |