Emergency Surgery For Olbermann

[TeddyKGB]

Source: TVNewser

Keith Olbermann is recovering from emergency surgery to remove his appendix. The surgery occured late Friday. Olbermann will miss his appearance on NBC's Football Night in America, as well as at least a few days of Countdown on MSNBC. MSNBC spokesperson Jeremy Gaines tells TVNewser Olbermann "is doing fine" and hopes to be back hosting Countdown at some point next week. Gaines tells us Alison Stewart will be filling in tomorrow and Tuesday on Countdown.

Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/emergency_surgery_for_olbermann_67118.asp

[intheozone]

1. I hope they got it out before it ruptured! nt

[Ilsa]

66. They must have, as it sounds like he'll be back pretty soon. But I bet

you know this already, so I'll shut up. ;)

[Kagemusha]

2. Glad to hear it's just an appendix removal.

That's urgent, and very bad if it's not done, but once it's done successfully, there's rarely anything to worry about. Better than a whole lot of worse alternatives, anyway.

[ShortnFiery]

Could they PLEASE put on the intelligent and beautiful young African American Woman ...

who, I think her first name is Allison? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't care much for the blonde "barbie doll" who sat in for Keith on Friday. But that's just me. :shrug:

[EST]

6. Read the last sentence of the OP.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Duh, sorry. I always thought that the woman I referenced above was his stand in.

And I was correct. Guess "Barbie" was available Friday on short notice?
Cool! Allison Stewart will be there standing in for Keith! :applause:

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Allison's the favorite stand-in in the KO group, too.

The others just have no sense of humor, but Allison is cool...:-)

[ShortnFiery]

12. Yes, it sounds corny but Allison has "a presence" that really makes the show

*very close* to as much fun as when Keith's there. In a different way, of course. But I'm not ever disappointed when I tune in to find Allison sitting in for Keith.

Get well soon Keith! At least you live in NYC. A surgeon had to be flown into our small town hospital in South Dakota to work on my appendix. No wonder I "swore off" the possibility of residing in small towns since that time. Enjoy the rest and get back to us real soon. :hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

16. I agree with you about Allison. I'm always disappointed when KO IS MIA,

but not nearly as much so when Allison's there!:-)

And I agree with you about small towns, since I come from one, too, went to Mass General in Boston for my surgery. I'm also glad that KO's in a place where he'll get the best of care. Glad that you're okay and I second your best wishes to Keith...:toast:

Rhiannon:hi:

[daninthemoon]

18. Me, too. She used to be a morning anchor on msnbc, but I don't

think she does that anymore. She deserves her own show, but when KO can't be there, even if she's second best to KO, she is a breath of fresh air. I'm only dissappointed if someone else is there. Get well sonn, Keith. America needs you. "Seriously, folks."

[TeddyKGB]

19. She's got her own show on NPR

http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/

[daninthemoon]

20. COOL, thanks. Of course, I like lookin at her, too. She definitely

does not have a radio face.

[TroglodyteScholar]

22. Didn't she get her start on MTV?

Yep, dig this: http://www.nndb.com/people/310/000123938/

[orleans]

46. allison HAD her own show on msnbc called "the most"

and they got rid of it. (the jerks)

[AnnieBW]

53. She needs her own show on MSNBC

She's great!

[Rhiannon12866]

84. Didn't she have her own show on MSNBC?

I thought that it was on in the afternoons, around 1 or 2pm EDT?:shrug:

I agree that we need to hear much more from her, but I'm grateful that she'll be there for the duration while Keith is recovering...:-)

[EST]

23. She is definitely the very best of his subs.

She doesn't do "Keith" but she has her own brand of of snark that I enjoy.

[Radio_Lady]

37. After being in broadcasting for 35 years, I'd say that Alison is one of the best and brightest...

young newscasters I've seen in a long time.



Also, I love her hair and her face! But that's just on the surface -- she is funny and silly, but authoritative enough to run Keith's show with a big bang for this fan!

Love you, Alison!

Making peace a priority,

Radio Lady, talk show host on Oregon Public Broadcasting's Accessible Information Network

On edit: I think she spells her first name with one "L".

Check out older information here ---->>>> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080452/

More on her newest venture on NPR ------>>>>> http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/

[1776Forever]

79. Remember when she broke her arm in her early days when she worked the "3rd" shift news broadcast???

I do! She has come a long way - but she was always good! Now she is coming into her own and she will make her mark I'm sure in a BIG way! Hooray for Allison!:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

[hisownpetard]

72. Right. She doesn't "do" Keith but she definitely "gets" Keith, and approaches

the broadcast with just the right tone of humor and seriousness.
There's only one Keith, but she's the best and only substitute that does a terrific job.

[jkshaw]

13. Agreed ShortnFiery,

I enjoy Allison Stewart, too.

[Scairp]

14. Glad Keith is going to be okay

And I agree with you about the blond who sat in for him this past Friday. I did not care for her either. Allison is better. Very difficult to sit in for Keith, as his viewers have come to expect a certain amount of attitude, but she does a better job than anyone else I've seen sitting in his chair.

[frogcycle]

27. Rachel Maddow would just rock

She has a regular radio show evenings though, so it might not work out. But she would be fantastic.

[Radio_Lady]

41. Yes, she would be another good choice! We're hearing her on KPOJ-AM here in Portland, OR!

[orleans]

47. i LOVE rachel--i'm always so glad to see her appear on keith's show

i figure she runs over from her own show so she probably couldn't get there before air time when countdown starts

[frogcycle]

62. Is her show done from Manhattan?

MSNBC is moving to the NBC building at Rockefeller Center

Maybe she'll be able to sub once in a while

[orleans]

68. probably manhattan. i'm not sure where she does her shows but

i think she gets done when keith begins. she's usually on about forty minutes into his show. (i think)

[frogcycle]

70. ah well, maybe AAr would accommodate her if she got such an opportunity n/t

[hisownpetard]

73. I love Rachel Maddow and am always happy to see her on. But, actually, I think she's best

as a guest and Alison is best as a stand-in for Keith because
KEITHTALKSVERYFAST!!!!!! And Alison is capable of doing that in her own graceful way,
but I don't think Rachel fits in with that kind speed in her delivery.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. hell yes, she is smart, interesting, and

ever so clean.


heh heh, I could not resist. But seriously she is great.

[postulater]

61. She's African American? I thought she was Scottish with a name

like Stewart!

[allisonthegreat]

83. yeah Allison Stewart..she's better suited

how i miss my cable...

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Damn you, Rove!

Is there anything you CAN'T do?:grr::silly:

Get well, KO!!!:thumbsup:

[Bluebear]

5. It's a "distraction"!!!

;)

Get well soon, Keith!

[mod mom]

4. Get well Keith-we need you!

[Sparkly]

8. Hope he gets well soon!

:hi:

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Get well, Keith. And donate the bad appendix to Bush, in the name of bipartisianship

You da man.............

[Rhiannon12866]

10. K&R. Can't be too serious if he'll be back next week, but I join everybody else on DU in wishing KO

a speedy and safe recovery...;(

[Vinca]

15. Poor Keith. Get well soon! nt

[Patsy Stone]

21. Get well soon, Keith!

:loveya:

[Triana]

24. Best Wishes for Our Man's Speedy Recovery!

I'm SO happy it wasn't something more serious!

Great that they have a decent stand-in for him too. :)

[nadine_mn]

25. Quick - someone alert Stephanie Miller

She can learn from Gonzo and get those marriage papers signed while he is hospitalized. She needs to run to his bedside before he fully recovers - go Mamma!

[ImpeechBush]

26. Best wishes for a rapid recovery and back at 'em Keith!

I hope someone shows him this thread

[Botany]

28. We will all be waiting and watching for your return, Keith

ATTN Hospital staff be on the look out for Stephanie Miller, (58),
of Hollywood Hills, CA trying to get into Keith's room to play
"Dirty Doctor."

[Maestro]

29. Here's to a speedy recovery KO!

I hope you feel better soon. A malfunctioning appendix can be extremely painful.

[simmonsj811]

30. GET WELL BIG GUY

THAT'S IT TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM JUST KIDDING I HOPE THAT KEITH IS DOING GOOD.Alison Stewart IS OK I GUESS BUT NOTHING LIKE YOU SIR ARE THE MAN THE MIGHTY KEITH OOOOOOOOOOOOOO:loveya:

[ooglymoogly]

31. whew glad its only a useless old appendiix....I went home with

little or no pain within 24 hrs and the stitches were absorbed within approx 2 weeks.

[orleans]

48. so are you saying he should be back to work on monday?!?!?! i hope so!!! n/t

[ooglymoogly]

59. just hopin and prayin and hopin and prayin

a day without Keith is a day of unchallenged propaganda and disappointment and just a little hard to take...at some point you have to exhale.

[orleans]

67. i so agree. i look forward to kicking back on the couch, giving him

my undivided attention, and watching him kick ass. it's my favorite time of day.

[LTR]

74. It depends

I had my appendix taken out three months ago. Luckily, I went to the emergency room right away after feeling symptoms. I looked up my ailment on WebMD, and all signs pointed to the appendix. The doctors commended me for going in as soon as I did, as most people wait until it bursts.

The difference is that I was out of the hospital in 24 hours and felt pretty close to normal a couple days later. The surgery was arthroscopic, meaning minimal scarring. When people wait until a rupture, this can be a very dangerous situation, even fatal. Plus, it could translate to a lengthy hospital stay. One of the main motivators for going in when I did is that I most certainly did not want to spend a week in a hospital bed eating jello, watching staticy TV and getting bedsores. I wanted to be in and out ASAP, and I knew I would have to go in eventually. I just wanted to get it over with.

Hopefully, Keith went in right away. If he did, he'll be fine. Actually, he should be okay anyways. It's pretty routine surgery. And if any of you feel a strange pain in your side, look up the symptoms and go to the doctor if need be. There's certainly no shame in that.

[ooglymoogly]

82. yes same with me....I knew from childhood that old trick

pressing firmly on the area and letting it go instantly....the resulting pain was obvious and I could not get to an emergency room right away so I started taking antibiotics that I had from previous and after the weekend I got my bad self to the hospital and they operated immediately. The whole hospital seemed to be chortling about me self treating and the doc said it was the right thing but only and I repeat only if a doc or hosp. or ambulance is not immediately accessible because if it burst you could die a very painful death. When I traveled into the desert of north Africa for months on end I had to self treat and know what to do under many contingencies, when to take anti biotics and when not as there were no hospitals within reach. Infections, broken bones, Scorpions, snakes, that sort of thing.

[sandyj999]

32. Owww!

Speedy recovery Keith! At least you got rid of one pain.:)

[cureautismnow]

33. Best Wishes for a Speedy Recovery, KO. n/t

[Kolesar]

34. Today's ... worst ... vestigial organ ... in the world !!!

... cue the organ music.

[Radio_Lady]

39. Terrific comment, TBA! I'm going to steal it for my audio gig next Friday with your permission!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestigial_structure

Thanks so much....

Radio Lady in Oregon

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Radio_Lady

[mcg]

69. The appendix may have functions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiform_appendix

The appendix is rich in infection-fighting lymphoid cells, suggesting that it might play a role in the immune system. ...

Loren G. Martin, argues that the appendix has a function in fetuses and adults. Endocrine cells have been found in the appendix of 11 week old fetuses that contribute to "biological control (homeostatic) mechanisms." In adults, Martin argues that the appendix acts as a lymphatic organ.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15228837&dopt=AbstractPlus
The vermiform appendix: not a useless organ.

The appendix has often been seen more as a nuisance rather than an important part of the human anatomy. Early misconceptions have led to the indiscriminate removal of the appendix from the body. Long thought to be an evolutionary remnant of little significance to normal physiology, the appendix has more recently been identified as an important component of mammalian mucosal immune function, particularly B-lymphocyte-mediated immune responses and extrathymically derived T-lymphocytes. This structure helps in the proper movement and removal of waste matter in the digestive system, contains lymphatic vessels that regulate pathogens, and lastly, might even produce early defences that prevent deadly diseases. The appendix is one of the guardians of the internal environment of the body from the hostile external environment.

http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=000CAE56-7201-1C71-9EB7809EC588F2D7&catID=3
What is the function of the human appendix? Did it once have a purpose that has since been lost?

Loren G. Martin, professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University, replies:

"For years, the appendix was credited with very little physiological function. We now know, however, that the appendix serves an important role in the fetus and in young adults. Endocrine cells appear in the appendix of the human fetus at around the 11th week of development. These endocrine cells of the fetal appendix have been shown to produce various biogenic amines and peptide hormones, compounds that assist with various biological control (homeostatic) mechanisms. There had been little prior evidence of this or any other role of the appendix in animal research, because the appendix does not exist in domestic mammals.

[Kolesar]

77. Thank you, professor!

:hi:

[ChazII]

35. Wishing Keith a speedy recovery. n/t

[Radio_Lady]

36. Thanks for posting! Where do we send flowers and candy?

[sarcasmo]

38. Kick.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

40. Get well real soon, and don't get hooked on any drugs!!!

[connecticut yankee]

42. Best wishes

for a speedy recovery, KO -- you're the greatest!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[Hekate]

43. Get well soon, Keith! It's not nearly as incisive (or fun) when you're gone!

:hi:

Hekate

[Xipe Totec]

44. I see Karl is playing with his Voodoo dolls again n/t

[orleans]

45. aw, poor keith. we missed you friday--and i'm sure you would have

much rather been doing your show than going to the hospital

so glad to hear you're okay.

hope everyone is taking good care of you. we depend on you so get well real soon.

[Vadem]

49. OMGoodness!! Get well, our Keith!!!! .... n/t

[bear425]

50. Speedy recovery Keith! n/t

[mvd]

51. Get well soon, Keith!

Glad Alison seems to have a backing here.

[Janice325]

58. I agree. Alison is the best sub for Keith.

I'm glad folks here appreciate her.
It'll be nice to see Alison again, but not quite the same as under normal circumstances, i.e., he's on vacation, going to a baseball game, etc., and Alison subs.
But his appendix??
Poor Keith.

[AnnieBW]

52. I can just see BillO

enjoying the hell out of Keith's misfortune. He's probably got a KO voodoo doll in his desk and is sticking pins in it.

Get well soon, Keith! We need you!

Anybody up for sending him flowers?

[maryallen]

54. Get well soon, Keith!

We'll miss you on Countdown.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

55. Get well quickly, Keith...

You will be sorely missed! :loveya:

[Olney Blue]

56. Get well soon, Keith!

[Janice325]

57. Kicking for Keith.

We MISS you, dude! :loveya: :grouphug:
Be back soon, 'kay??

[Release The Hounds]

60. Must've ate a jagged, metal Krusty-O.

[Maat]

63. Oh, my! Get well, Keith O.!

We miss you.

[Spinzonner]

64. Don't let Card or Gonzales near his hospital room

[CBHagman]

65. That was frightening.

Gute Besserung to our Keith!

And after all the Allison Stewart love on this thread, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful Monica Novotny, who has presented various special reports, flies solo sometimes, and teams beautifully with KO.

[KDLarsen]

71. Whew..

Glad it's "only" the appendix. Just the other day I watched the monologue he did on cancer, and how he had undergone surgery to have a tumor removed, and for a moment I feared that it was that tumor which had returned. Get well soon Keith!

EDIT: In case people haven't seen it before, here's the link http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=5ac2937b-29fe-4271-bdb8-e026cc92cc41 - it was done shortly after Peter Jennings' death from lung cancer.

[marlakay]

75. Gell well soon dude...we will miss you! nt

[Vidar]

76. Wishing Keith a speedy recovery.

[onehandle]

78. The appendix works for Fox News. This was an inside job! nt

[Pawel K]

80. How long before someone here claims Bush made him sick?

Get well soon Keith, we need you.

[1776Forever]

81. Best Keith!!! Get well soon and take some time to mend!

:yourock: :pals: :yourock: :grouphug: