Doctors at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington are reporting that South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson is recovering nicely and will return to his duties in the Senate.
An excerpt from today's Sioux Falls Argus Leader:
South Dakota U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson's doctors are saying he soon will be able to fully resume his senatorial duties.
They could not say, however, when Johnson would return to Capitol Hill.
Johnson, who suffered a brain hemorrhage six months ago, has been working from home for several months while he undergoes physical, speech and occupational therapy several hours a day, five days a week.
"He's on a great track, he's doing well, but he has to keep doing therapy," Johnson's spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said Monday. "It's like looking at an athlete and saying: 'There won't be a problem. You'll be able to come back to work, but you'll miss a few more games.' "
From the Associated Press:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said he expected Johnson to return to the Senate in September, if not earlier. Reid, said Johnson has recovered 90% of his speech, although his right side remains weak.
"He and his family and the doctors are trying to decide whether he will come back in September or July, but he's really doing quite well," Reid said.
This is definitely a long way from the news reports in mid-December saying that Sen. Johnson was in critical condition after surgery from a brain hemorrhage. While my chief concerns were for Sen. Johnson and his family, I was also resigned to accepting the Republicans would retake control of the Senate.
I hope he continues to get well.