by Mark Silva
President Bush checked in on Chief Justice John Roberts this morning, after the chief justice of the Supreme Court suffered a seizure at his summer retreat in Maine.
“The chief justice assured him he is doing fine,’’ Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said of the president’s phone conversation with Roberts this morning. “ The president was reassured. He sounded in great spirits.’’
The White House had been aware that Roberts had suffered a similar seizure, with no known origin, 14 years ago, when Bush nominated Roberts for the top seat on the Supreme Court.
“If you recall, looking at the medical records, this was a seizure of no known reasons 14 years ago,’’ Snow said, and “obviously knowing about this, there was an evaluation done of it.''
Roberts was resting today at the Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport after falling on an island dock getting out of a boat near his home on Hupper Island, Maine. He had suffered a seizure similar to one that he had experienced in 1993. Doctors in Maine said they had found no evidence of a tumor, stroke of any other explanation for it.
(photo credit: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)
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Comments
On Friday, July 21, 2000, I was driving a bus with four individuals in wheelchairs home from a Cubs game to Lockport. At 6:38 pm, I went into a grand mal seizure on the Stevenson, behind the wheel. The seizure lated 7 minutes, and the van bounced back and forth on the highway for over 5 miles. At Loyola, I had a second seizure that was so severe they injected with a surgical anesthetic to paralyze me. Moral, 7 years later, I have no answer as to why. There is no abnormality found on any EEG, or nay other "G" that can be performed. There is absolutely no family history of epilepsy in any faction of my family tree. Reading this article brought a chill to me, allowing me to revisit a horrible time in my life. I ask all bloggers to give a prayer for Mr. Roberts.
Not knowing why has been more difficult for me to accept than the actual seizures themselves. AS I have stated, I work with Adults with disabilities. The one thing that helps me cope is that now I have a foot on the client side of the line. I know the side effects of the seizure medication I take (Lamictal, 300 mg 2 times per day). I will burn in the sun very easily. I must have sunglasses outside. Dizziness, nausea, confusion, sleep pronlems are just a handful of what you have to get accustomed to.
God bless you Mr. Roberts. It is a difficult road ahead.
Posted by: Rob S | July 31, 2007 10:36 AM
In keeping wih today’s news of Chief Justice Roberts’ seizure, it looms prudent that all 2008 presidential candidates be asked,” If elected, and have the opportunity, would you appoint a woman to the Supreme Court?
A simple “yes” or “no” answer, can be the only acceptable response.
barbara joan zeitz
women’s historian/gender equity analyst
Read: CountHerHistory at: www.aauw-il.org/information
Posted by: Barbara Joan Zeitz | July 31, 2007 11:00 AM
Very kind thoughts there, Rob S. No doubt a seizure can be a very scary thing. Having seen someone go into an epileptic seizure on the NBC Building plaza in the early 90s, it certainly is something I would never want to see again.
Yes, God Bless John Roberts and you as well Rob S.
Posted by: John D | July 31, 2007 11:15 AM
It was the devil! The devil plum took his feet from under him.
Posted by: Evangelical Joe | July 31, 2007 11:28 AM
Seizures are symptoms of abnormal brain function. With the exception of very young children and the elderly, the cause of the abnormal brain function is usually "not identifiable".
In about seven out of ten people with epilepsy, no cause can be found. Among the rest, the cause may be any one of a number of things that can make a difference in the way the brain works. Head injuries (old or new), lack of oxygen during birth, a number of infections and also lead poisoning. I am glad that the Chief Justice is ok, and you Rob S, are lucky you were able to control that van! Your guardian angel was with you that day!!
Posted by: Mugsy | July 31, 2007 11:34 AM
When I was growing up in Maine I knew that island as "Hooper Island." The USGS map at Terraserver.com and my DeLorme Maine atlas have it the same way.
Posted by: Dave Brann | July 31, 2007 12:15 PM
Close, Mark, but no Habana!
"Hooper," not "Hopper."
Swamp note:
Thanks Dave,
Hopper, as in Dennis, is wrong, you're right.
Hupper, as in Maine, is right,
so is Hooper, to the locals
http://www.boatmaine.us/calsingle.aspx?resID=3404#content
Posted by: Dave Brann | July 31, 2007 1:36 PM
Maybe, Barbara, all should be asked if they approve of scrambling the brains of babies about to be born.
Posted by: whatnow | July 31, 2007 2:17 PM
Thanks John D, that means alot, sincerely.
It was the devil! The devil plum took his feet from under him.
Posted by: Evangelical Joe | July 31, 2007 11:28 AM
I now know everything I need to about Evangelical Joe. I can guarantee that I have had several conversations with God about what has happened. The why me's etc. But your comment belittling a very intense medical crisis is all we need to know about you. If you are lucky, you will never wake up after 10 - 15 minutes with all kinds of medical people hanging around you. I would not wish that on anybody, even you!
Posted by: Rob S | July 31, 2007 2:39 PM
Rob S., not sure if you realized it or not, but the so-called "evangelical Joe," is a proud card-carrying member of the Loony Left. Very well may be the King of the Loons, John E. He loves to post as others!
Posted by: John D | July 31, 2007 4:21 PM
You learn something new everyday. I believe this reinforces more what I wrote about his comment. I sent a letter to justice Robert's today giving him my thoughts and blessings. Odds are he'll never know why. After 7 years I don't, but I can't change it, only adapt, overcome and improvise.
Thanks John D.
Posted by: Rob S | July 31, 2007 6:09 PM