Needless to say, I was very stressed when Harry had his stroke. All the way to the hospital, riding in an ambulance with my husband laying unconscious, I couldn't believe this was happening. He hadn't been doing well healthwise for a while, but I hadn't expected a stroke, and so suddenly. And as everybody is when they realize the chance that their spouse may die soon, I realized I wasn't ready for it.
Still, I wasn't about to give up. Harry
had a chance, I believed.
They rushed him into a regular ER room at first, where I sat outside as the doctors performed all sorts of experiments to find out what was wrong with Harry. They hooked him up to several different machines that kept him alive for the next few days, and finally, a while later, they came out and explained his condition.
They confirmed my belief that Harry had a stroke. I learned that his body was paralyzed, though he was able to hear, see, and understand people around him.
But he was dying. The doctors estimated that he had a few days left.
I contacted my friends, my family... almost everybody I knew. I know I even contacted Peter Rouse, who lived in a town near Danville, and he came over right away. Harry got a lot of visitors that day, which I think really comforted him. I know it comforted myself.
And later that day, they admitted him, and he was taken to a
really nice room at the top floor, with a nice view of the city, a TV, and even a couch.
- My Journey: Confessions of a First Lady by Sen. Laura Turtledove, copyright 2012
"I would like to announce the condition of President Turtledove. The president suffered a stroke about 8:30 this morning, and was driven in by paramedics about 9. Several of our finest doctors were able to stabilize him, but we do have bad news for Turtledove's permanent condition: He has been paralyzed, and is unable to move. Parts of his brain have also been paralyzed, which, I regret to say, may lead to his eventual passing away."
- Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center[1] Spokeswoman Sheila Davis[2] at a press conference, October 30 2010, 11:45 A.M. EST
"I was very saddened to hear about President Turtledove's condition. I wish the best for the former president, and for a speedy recovery for Mrs. Turtledove and their children and family."
- California Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown (D-CA) statement, Oct. 30 2010
"I wish the best for Mr. Turtledove. Harry was always at my side in times of trouble, and we have always been close friends. I will be flying to Kentucky later today to visit him."
- Former Vice President Newt Gingrich statement, Oct. 30 2010
I often wonder what Harry was thinking about for his last three days. He couldn't talk, so he obviously couldn't share any of his thoughts. But at least he
had them, or at least, the doctors said he was able to think. He napped a lot, but he was awake sometimes.
I think he thought about his family a lot. He thought about Sheila, he thought about their kids, and I think he thought a lot of stuff about his political career. His presidency had ended almost two years ago. I think he went back to the early 1980s, and thought about where it all began...
- Former White House Chief of Staff Peter Rouse, interviewed for Harry Turtledove: The Biography by David McCullough, copyright 2011
[1] Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is a real hospital located in Danville, Kentucky.
[2] Of course, she's fictional.