Julianne Fisher,
a spokeswoman for South Dakota Democratic senator Tim
Johnson, said Johnson won't be present in the first days of
the new Congress next week but that he is continuing
to improve two weeks after he had emergency
surgery to repair a brain hemorrhage that has left him
in critical condition. Johnson, who turned 60 on
Thursday, is responsive to directions from his wife
but has not yet spoken, Fisher said, adding that it's
too early to tell how long recovery will take.
The senator's
sudden illness raised questions about the Democrats'
one-vote majority in the upcoming Senate session. South
Dakota's Republican governor, Mike Rounds, would
appoint a replacement if Johnson's seat were vacated
by his death or resignation.
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. But there is ample
precedent for senators to continue to hold office
while incapacitated.
In a statement
Thursday, Johnson's doctors said he remains in intensive
care at George Washington University Hospital. They have
released few new details about Johnson's condition and
prognosis since the days after the December 13 surgery
to stop bleeding in his brain.
Vivek Deshmukh,
head of Johnson's surgical team, said in a statement that
the South Dakota senator's overall condition has improved
and that he is gradually being weaned off sedation to
help his brain heal. The statement said Johnson is
expected to undergo more tests in coming days.
Johnson's wife,
Barbara, said her husband ''continues to give us great
hope'' and that two of the couple's three grown children
were at the hospital to be with him on his birthday.
''While we were both looking forward to celebrating
his 60th birthday with our family and friends, I know
the celebration is just postponed,'' she said.
Johnson was
diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, a condition often
present from birth that causes arteries and veins to grow
abnormally large, become tangled, and sometimes burst.
He was rushed to the hospital after becoming
disoriented on a call with reporters and had surgery hours
later.
Keith Siller,
director of the Comprehensive Stroke Care Center at New
York University Medical Center and assistant professor
at the NYU School of Medicine, said it is unusual for
a patient to be sedated after brain surgery for more
than a few days. ''The two-week period is longer than
I would be happy with,'' he said. (AP)
