Richard Holbrooke is in critical condition after his 20 hour surgery. The diplomat underwent 20 hours of surgery to repair a tear in his aorta, which is the large artery that takes blood away from the heart.
Richard Holbrooke Collapsed in Meeting, Rushed to Surgery
Holbrooke is a special envoy on the Afghanistan war, and President Barack Obama actually said that both he and Michelle are praying for his recovery. Holbrooke’s situation appears to be quite critical at this point. Holbrooke collapsed suddenly on Friday during a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Shortly after that, Richard Holbrooke had surgery to repair the torn artery.
Barack Obama Speaks About Richard Holbrooke’s Service
Obama said of Holbrooke, "Richard Holbrooke is a towering figure in American foreign policy, a critical member of my Afghanistan and Pakistan team, and a tireless public servant who has won the admiration of the American people and people around the world." Hopefully Holbrooke is recovering with his family near him.
After Surgery, Richard Holbrooke’s Recovery Will Be Long
Because of the nature of his aorta tear, Holbrooke’s recovery is likely to be long after the long surgery. The diplomat has played an important role in the war in Afghanistan, and the Obama administration will start its review of the war on Thursday – that is expected to continue, but the absence of Holbrooke will certainly be felt especially if the administration pushes for U.S. forces to come home.
Thankfully Richard Holbrooke was able to get medical attention immediately. A torn aorta is a serious condition, which can lead to a quick death if it’s not taken care of quickly. Thankfully the surgery appears to have been a success. Although there is a lot going on that Holbrooke was involved in, he really needs to spend this time recovering.
© Copyright: News Today Online by Kate James at Gather.com
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