Sen. Tim Johnson Hospitalized

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson was in a Sioux Falls hospital on Monday after being admitted with a fever that might have been caused by a reaction to an antibiotic, his staff announced.

Johnson, 63, was in stable condition and doing well after being admitted on Sunday, but doctors were keeping the Democrat in the hospital on Monday night for continued observation and tests, said Julianne Fisher, the senator's communications director.

"He had a fever. That was why he went into the hospital. It was a high fever," Fisher said. "They're doing testing because they want to make sure everything is OK."

Dr. Scott Beckstrand of Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center said doctors are doing a full investigation, but they suspect the fever was caused by a reaction to medicine and was not related to the brain hemorrhage Johnson suffered in December 2006.

The senator underwent emergency surgery for the life-threatening bleeding caused by veins and blood vessels that grew tangled and burst. After speech and physical therapy, he returned to the Senate in September 2007 and won re-election to a third Senate term in 2008.

Johnson was scheduled to visit the Pierre area on Monday to check out stimulus-funded work that made the Stanley County courthouse in Fort Pierre more energy efficient. That appearance was canceled before his office announced he was in the hospital.

In a written statement, Johnson said: "Trust me, I would rather be in Pierre today. I'm glad to be back home in South Dakota and on the mend soon."

Fisher said Johnson's wife, Barbara, and his son, U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson, were at the hospital with the senator.

"He's alert," Fisher said of the senator.

"I think this is just a matter of doctors are being very cautious in looking through everything and want to figure out what's going on," Fisher said.

Comments

[littleolwinemakerme]

12:28 AM on 08/10/2010

Health care for everyone.

[kenhamlett]

10:11 PM on 08/09/2010

I am a Democrat, and I admire and respect Senator Johnson. But, I have to question his continuation in the Senate. When he initially had his stroke, he essentially missed a year of work in the Senate. In my opinion, the people South Dakota deserve a full-time senator. I realize that stroke victims need motivation to recover, but being a senator is certainly not the only thing Senator Johnson could have returned to after recovering. I support enabling disabled people to be in every workplace, but if their disability prevents them doing the job, different factors must be considered. Being a senator involves being present for sessions of the Senate, but also for many other activities. Sometimes, politics requires putting others first -- though we find fewer and fewer politicians who subscribe to that belief. I wish Senator Johnson and his family only good things. I hope he lives a long and happy life. But, perhaps everyone would be better off if he vacated his Senate seat, turning it over to a full-time (hopefully Democratic) senator from South Dakota.

[littleolwinemakerme]

12:29 AM on 08/10/2010

Thank you Richard.

[cybersense]

09:01 PM on 08/09/2010

Good, I am glad he is doing better. My kid had a severe reaction to an antibiotic just last week. Terrible symptoms. This can be a scary thing.

[blueskybigstar]

08:54 PM on 08/09/2010

I hope the doctor tells him that for his health he should give up his blue dog nature.

[johnb123]

08:01 PM on 08/09/2010

He's an incumbent in the pockets of the banks. Give him the rest he needs, throw him out in November.

[JOEL1954]

08:17 PM on 08/09/2010

Sorry he isn't up for re-election until 2014.

[johnb123]

08:40 PM on 08/09/2010

Keep him on "People to Throw Out" list :)

[majii]

06:36 PM on 08/09/2010

I hope he gets well soon.

[Pie7]

07:36 PM on 08/09/2010

I concur!

[OldKatt]

11:14 PM on 08/09/2010

I also hope he gets well soon, for his sake, for his family's sake, and for his constituents' sake. Plus, If he has to resign because of his health, the GOP Governor of S.D. can appoint a GOP Senator in Dem. Johnson's place.