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Sharon in serious condition after stroke
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-05 19:53
He had been expected to easily win re-election in March at the head of the
moderate Kadima Party he created to free his hands for further peace moves with
the Palestinians.
Many Israelis see Sharon — an overweight war hero and longtime hawk who
changed tack and withdrew from the Gaza Strip last year — as the best hope for
achieving a peace deal with the Palestinians. His illness would create a power
vacuum in the government and cloud the electoral prospects of his party, which
was built around Sharon.
At the emergency Cabinet meeting, Sharon's chair at the center of the long
oval table remained empty.
"This is a difficult situation that we are not accustomed to," Olmert told
the somber ministers.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas contacted Israeli officials Thursday to
express concern over Sharon's deteriorating health, an Abbas aide said.
Sharon fell ill at his ranch Wednesday evening and was rushed to Hadassah
Hospital, where doctors put him on a respirator and began emergency surgery
about midnight (5 p.m. EST Wednesday). Doctors said Thursday morning they had
stopped the bleeding during initial surgery, but Sharon was sent back to the
operating room because a brain scan showed he required more treatment. He later
underwent a second scan before being sent to the ICU, Mor-Yosef said.
Surgery apparently had been complicated by blood thinners Sharon took
following a mild stroke Dec. 18. The medication may also have contributed to
Wednesday's stroke. Sharon originally had been scheduled to undergo a procedure
Thursday to seal a hole in his heart that contributed to the initial stroke.
Mor-Yosef did not address Sharon's prognosis, but neurosurgeons not involved
in Sharon's treatment said a full recovery was not likely following such a
massive stroke. They said it usually takes at least a day after surgery to
determine the extent of any damage.
Outside doctors said chances of recovery were slim, especially because of the
length of the surgery.
"For them to have to go back in twice, that's not good," said Dr. Emil
Popovic, at neurosurgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia.
"At 77, not too many people make a good recovery from a brain hemorrhage."
Palestinian officials said they were concerned the uncertainty in Israel
could overshadow their campaign for Jan. 25 elections.
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