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The420Guy
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SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnson, recovering from a fall on the ice while
running last week, got his new back brace signed by lawmakers
Wednesday when he paid surprise visits to the House and Senate floors.
Johnson, who called his injury a broken back, dropped by the Capitol
for a couple of hours on his way home from a morning visit to his
doctor. He said he hoped to begin easing back into his regular work
schedule.
"I hope to get back a little bit more each day," said Johnson, who was
dressed in jeans and cowboy boots and wore his plastic brace over a
white T-shirt. "I'll play that by ear."
Johnson, 48, suffered compression fractures to two vertebrae near his
shoulder blades when he slipped on ice while running in Santa Fe
before dawn on Jan. 17.
Johnson, an accomplished triathlete and competitive skier, told
reporters the pain from the injury was "terrible."
"It really does hurt," he said. "I guess that comes with a broken
back."
Johnson said he was taking Valium and Percocet for the pain, which he
said helps, but "doesn't alleviate it."
After visiting briefly with his staff, Johnson went down to the Senate
and House floors to chat with lawmakers.
"I didn't mean to interrupt the business of the Senate, but if you all
would take a few minutes and sign my brace it would be appreciated,"
Johnson said as he entered the Senate chamber.
"Actually, the governor's here lobbying for medical marijuana,"
quipped Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Dona Ana.
Johnson, an outspoken critic of the nation's "war on drugs" has called
for decriminalization of minor marijuana possession and says the drug
should be available for certain medical treatments, such as nausea
relief for cancer patients.
Johnson, speaking with reporters, praised the election of Sen. Richard
Romero, D-Albuquerque, over Sen. Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, for
president pro tem of the Senate.
"I just think it is very positive and I'm really optimistic," Johnson
said.
Dee Johnson, who accompanied her husband on his first visit back to
the Capitol since his injury, described him as a "terrible" patient.
He gets better each day about "accepting the injury," she said, but it
was difficult for an active man like Johnson to be bedridden.
"He dropped by against my protests on the way back from the doctor,"
Dee Johnson said of the governor's visit to the Capitol. "This is just
to let everyone know that he's still here," she said. "He's still
governor. He's still alive."
Johnson said he had spent most of the last week in bed. He said he has
to wear the brace for about six weeks while he is out of bed. The
brace helps hold the vertebrae in proper position while they heal and
provides support.
Johnson spent part of the 1996 legislative session on crutches after
he injured his left knee during a ski race at Red River.
Newshawk: Rob Ryan
Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal
Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com
Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: The Albuquerque Journal
Author: Loie Fecteau
running last week, got his new back brace signed by lawmakers
Wednesday when he paid surprise visits to the House and Senate floors.
Johnson, who called his injury a broken back, dropped by the Capitol
for a couple of hours on his way home from a morning visit to his
doctor. He said he hoped to begin easing back into his regular work
schedule.
"I hope to get back a little bit more each day," said Johnson, who was
dressed in jeans and cowboy boots and wore his plastic brace over a
white T-shirt. "I'll play that by ear."
Johnson, 48, suffered compression fractures to two vertebrae near his
shoulder blades when he slipped on ice while running in Santa Fe
before dawn on Jan. 17.
Johnson, an accomplished triathlete and competitive skier, told
reporters the pain from the injury was "terrible."
"It really does hurt," he said. "I guess that comes with a broken
back."
Johnson said he was taking Valium and Percocet for the pain, which he
said helps, but "doesn't alleviate it."
After visiting briefly with his staff, Johnson went down to the Senate
and House floors to chat with lawmakers.
"I didn't mean to interrupt the business of the Senate, but if you all
would take a few minutes and sign my brace it would be appreciated,"
Johnson said as he entered the Senate chamber.
"Actually, the governor's here lobbying for medical marijuana,"
quipped Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Dona Ana.
Johnson, an outspoken critic of the nation's "war on drugs" has called
for decriminalization of minor marijuana possession and says the drug
should be available for certain medical treatments, such as nausea
relief for cancer patients.
Johnson, speaking with reporters, praised the election of Sen. Richard
Romero, D-Albuquerque, over Sen. Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, for
president pro tem of the Senate.
"I just think it is very positive and I'm really optimistic," Johnson
said.
Dee Johnson, who accompanied her husband on his first visit back to
the Capitol since his injury, described him as a "terrible" patient.
He gets better each day about "accepting the injury," she said, but it
was difficult for an active man like Johnson to be bedridden.
"He dropped by against my protests on the way back from the doctor,"
Dee Johnson said of the governor's visit to the Capitol. "This is just
to let everyone know that he's still here," she said. "He's still
governor. He's still alive."
Johnson said he had spent most of the last week in bed. He said he has
to wear the brace for about six weeks while he is out of bed. The
brace helps hold the vertebrae in proper position while they heal and
provides support.
Johnson spent part of the 1996 legislative session on crutches after
he injured his left knee during a ski race at Red River.
Newshawk: Rob Ryan
Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal
Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com
Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: The Albuquerque Journal
Author: Loie Fecteau