| Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: USA Posts: 8,377 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 21,005.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 21,505.00 | 
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Livin..._040903-1.html Quote: Sept. 3, 2004 — Former President Bill Clinton will undergo quadruple heart bypass surgery in New York City, ABCNEWS has learned.
Clinton, 58, is planning to undergo the operation at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan on Saturday, a source close to Clinton told ABC News.
The severity of his coronary problem was discovered after an angiogram this morning at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., a source said. His coronary results were not favorable and he was found to have multiple lesions, the source added.
In a statement from Clinton's office, spokeswoman Tammy Sun said Clinton is being admitted today to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for bypass surgery.
"The former president went to Northern Westchester Hospital [Thursday] afternoon after experiencing mild chest pain and shortness of breath," the statement said. "Initial testing was normal and he spent the night at home in nearby Chappaqua, N.Y. After undergoing additional testing this morning at Westchester Medical Center, doctors advised he should undergo bypass surgery."
Clinton's wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., had an event scheduled this morning in Syracuse, N.Y., that was cancelled. She and former first daughter Chelsea would join the former president in New York City, Sun said.
Reasons for Optimism?
ABC News' medical editor Dr. Tim Johnson said that without more information, it's hard to know how serious Clinton's situation is, but that he very well could enjoy a healthy recovery.
"It's a very routine operation," Johnson said. "He has in his favor that he's a relatively young man and in other ways appears to be in relatively good health."
In the past, Clinton has struggled to control his weight, though a 1997 physical revealed he had lowered it from his 1991 high of 226 pounds to 196 pounds, according to a report at the time. His cholesterol level reportedly was measured at 179 and his blood pressure was 122 over 68, with a pulse of 60.
The situation may have changed by a January 2001 medical checkup, however, when Clinton told reporters, "My cholesterol is a little too high because I haven't exercised, and I ate all that Christmas dessert. But in six months it will be back to normal. I knew I was doing it, but what the heck. It was my last time, and I wanted to enjoy it."
Still Active, Popular
Clinton, who served two terms as president, from 1993 to 2001, recently returned to the public eye. He gave a televised primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention in July, and released My Life, his best-selling memoir, this summer.
Though he always has had bitter detractors, Clinton's popularity remains high, according to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll. As he started a book tour in June, the poll showed his retrospective job approval rating at 62 percent, topping its average during his presidency. | NO! Bubba!! |
09-03-2004, 01:32 PM 
