Survivor of Congenital Arteriovenous Malformation Speaks About Sen. Johnson's Illness and Her Recovery

More than a week has passed since Democratic Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota underwent emergency brain surgery. Johnson suffered bleeding in his brain caused by a rare condition known as "congenital arteriovenous malformation." It causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large. The arteries become tangled and sometimes burst.

Johnson was hospitalized nine days ago after a conference call with reporters where he began to slur his words and stammer.

* Sen. Tim Johnson

Johnson's doctors say he remains in critical condition and is being kept sedated to aid his recovery from the brain surgery.

His recovery could decide who controls the Senate. If he were to resign or die, the Republican governor of South Dakota, Mike Rounds would be able to pick a Republican to replace him thus giving the GOP control of the Senate.

But as long as Johnson is alive, the Democratic majority will likely remain intact because there is no rule requiring that a senator must be on Capitol Hill for every vote.

The Senate has never ousted a member over poor health.

In 1969 another South Dakota Senator -- Karl Mundt -- suffered a stroke. He never appeared in the Senate again but remained in office through 1972.

LIn the 1940s Senator Carter Glass of Virginia suffered heart trouble and was absent for four full years.

Today we are going to look not at the politics surrounding Johnson's illness but the illness itself.

Donna Cappella joins us now -- Donna suffered a congenital arteriovenous malformation a year and a half ago. She is the former business manager here at Downtown Community Television. Also with us is her husband Frederic Soule.

* Donna Cappella

* Frederic Soule

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