The Governor remains in a Richmond hospital with 7 broken ribs and a punctured lung that continues to fill with blood. [read_more]McAuliffe was injured on December 28th while horseback riding on safari in Tanzania. He was unaware of the broken ribs or punctured lungs until he finally visited a doctor on January 12th, despite the fact that he had been in severe pain, unable to sleep or even lie down, and suffering from labored breathing. A local paramedic in Tanzania told him his ribs were only bruised, not broken, and the Governor continued to believe him until his breathing became very labored. From the Washington Post,
“So I continued on for seven more days of safari out in that Jeep, bouncing up and down hills,” he said in an interview with The Washington Post from his room at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “It was obviously very painful. But you know, listen, I want my kids to have a good vacation.”
He said it helped that as he sat up nights, he read “Unbroken,” the World War II survival story of Louis Zamperini.“Honestly, that’s what I thought about at night to keep me going, to try and get the pain out of my mind: If Louis can be subjected to this over there, I can handle a couple bruised ribs. I didn’t know anything. I was in Tanzania.”
The Governor didn’t know anything about his injuries while he was in Tanzania and waited weeks to see a doctor after his return to Richmond. Does this make him a very tough guy or just a very foolish man? He will remain at VCU hospital for at least another day.
11 comments
that and some good morphine… im sure made him sleep like a baby.
Sounds as if Obamacare has already hit Tanzania. Bad doctors and x-rays that are too expensive to waste on tourists. We complain about too much testing, but in this case it would have revealed the problem.
Sounds like he got a good does of (un)Affordable Care medical care. It’s our future unless we repeal Obamacare!
Larselle! You beat me to the punch. As I was scrolling down reading the comments, thoughts of Obamacare came to mind, and how this episode might have caused the Guv to reconsider. Coverage does not equal Care.
I plan to be in Richmond on Feb. 9th with AFP lobbying on health care. Join us. I lost MY policy this year…the one I’d had for 27 yrs. I won’t rest until our legislators suffer too!
Just wait until the REALLY big lie hits the fan for that Democratic adoring middle class liberal post Feb 2015 and it dawns that the uninsured penalty is NOT that $95 that Obama has constantly referred to (that’s the minimum) but up to 1% of household income.
Isn’t that the same day that Morrissey is back in court and McDonnell goes to the Slammer?
Sorry you lost your insurance. I’ve heard the same story from so many friends and it’s heartbreaking.
He’s now looking for a way to blame this on Joe Morrissey.
It’s both tough and foolish. If you are in such great pain you can’t sleep at night you should see a doctor.
look, broken ribs hurt like a SOB. but so do bruised ribs. at this time, with the pain he must be suffering, no one should wish the Gov any ill
Broken ribs are extremely painful! Along with punctured lung I think he is lucky to be alive. It does show fortitude, but surprising he waited so long to seek medical attention when he got back home. Perhaps a little foolish too!
I am hoping reading Unbroken along with this experience may have altered his mindset regarding America and his role to play.