CHICAGO — The swelling in Gov. Frank O'Bannon's brainbegan to diminish Thursday, three days after he suffered a massivestroke, hospital officials said.
In addition to conducting hourly neurological tests on thegovernor, doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital observed someevidence of reduced swelling in his brain.
O'Bannon remained sedated in critical condition. He still had abreathing tube in his throat, and a ventilator continued to assisthis respiration.
Earlier Thursday, hospital spokeswoman Kelly Sullivan toldreporters the ventilator had been turned off, and the governor wasbreathing on his own for the first time since Monday, when hecollapsed at a Chicago hotel and underwent brain surgery. Sullivanlater changed that statement.
On Wednesday, O'Bannon had begun to breathe independently from aventilator that was aiding his respiratory system, though hiscondition required that the equipment continue to be used, doctorssaid. His vital signs had also stabilized.
The governor collapsed Monday at a hotel where he was attendinga conference. Doctors determined O'Bannon suffered a stroke on theright side of his brain that led to bleeding. The blood wascompletely removed during surgery, and he was put into adrug-induced coma.
It was too early to tell the extent of damage the stroke causedto O'Bannon's brain or what effect that damage might have on hisquality of life.
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