Governor suffers stroke, remains in critical condition

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon, 73, was in critical condition late Monday night after he suffered a massive brain hemorrhage while visiting Chicago. \nThe governor was found lying unconscious on his hotel room floor early Monday morning after he failed to appear for a planned economic conference. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he underwent three hours of emergency surgery.\nDoctors said the next 24-48 hours are crucial to his survival.\n"Hopefully he's going to be able to function," said Dr. Wesley Yapor from Northwestern. "How much, we don't know."\nDoctors drained blood from both sides of O'Bannon's brain during the surgery and found evidence of trauma, suggesting he may have fallen.\nIndiana Lt. Gov. Joseph Kernan, who was also in Chicago, assumed the role of acting governor Monday afternoon after returning to the Statehouse via helicopter. \nUnder the Indiana Constitution, the state Supreme Court now has 48 hours to determine whether O'Bannon is able to voluntarily hand over his power. If not, the speaker of the House and the Senate pro tempore may authorize Kernan to assume full responsibility of the Indiana executive.\n"We are all hoping Gov. O'Bannon will return to his duties," Kernan said. "But we need more information before anything else is done."\nO'Bannon was in Chicago to give opening remarks at Monday's U.S. Midwest-Japan conference. Sunday night at dinner, the Governor appeared to be feeling fine, showing friends pictures he took on his digital camera, Kernan said.\nAt 8 a.m. Monday morning, aides phoned O'Bannon's hotel room at the Palmer Hilton and got no response. They called again at 8:30, and still O'Bannon did not pick up.\nHotel security then forcibly opened O'Bannon's door, to find him unconscious on the floor, lying on his back.\nKernan, who rode in the ambulance, said the governor was breathing but unresponsive. Kernan stayed at the hospital until the governor's wife arrived by helicopter from Indianapolis.\nKernan was visibly shaken as he spoke to reporters Monday afternoon.\n"This is a day of great sorrow," he said. Referring to the governor he said, "I feel they don't come any better. There is no one who cares more about the people of Indiana."\nThe governor's trip was part of a hectic summer schedule that included a survey of the state's flooding and a visit by President George W. Bush.\nMembers of O'Bannon's staff said they never saw signs the governor was in poor health. \n"He's been in excellent health throughout his term," said press secretary Andrew Stoner. "There were no apparent problems at all that we'd seen."\nOfficials across the state expressed their concern regarding O'Bannon's condition.\n"Frank is a good man, and one of the most decent public servants I've ever had the honor of working with," Indiana Senator Evan Bayh said in a statement. "(My wife and I) have Frank, Judy and the entire O'Bannon family and staff in our thoughts and prayers right now."\nO'Bannon, a Democrat, is serving his second term as governor. He was Lt. Governor from 1989 to 1996 under Evan Bayh and served 18 years as a state senator from Corydon. \nHe graduated from IU in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in government. After a two-year tour with the Air Force, he returned to Bloomington to earn his law degree. He met his wife, Judy, on a blind date while at IU.\n-- Contact senior writer Adam VanOsdol at avanosdo@indiana.edu.