It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Ariel Sharon. (Discuss)

The Illnesses of Ariel Sharon are a series of medical problems that former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has experienced, especially coming to the fore in late 2005 and early 2006 when he suffered two strokes, the latter quite severe. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל שָׁרוֹן, also known by his diminutive Arik) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל שָׁרוֹן, also known by his diminutive Arik) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ...

Obesity

The actual weight of Ariel Sharon had long been the subject of speculation. It was revealed after his first stroke in December 2005, that he weighed 118 kg (18 stone 8 lb or 260 lb) at the time, making him morbidly obese, and had subsequently lost a number of pounds. Sharon often joked about his own weight; in October 2004 when asked why he did not wear a ballistic vest despite frequent death threats, Sharon smiled and replied, "There are none that fit my size". [1] While this obesity in itself would not necessarily lead to a stroke, the associated conditions, such as high cholesterol, could. The stone is a unit of mass in the Imperial system of weights and measures used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and most Commonwealth countries. ... Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and mammals, is increased to a point where it is a risk factor for certain health conditions or increased mortality. ... Bullet resistant vest A bullet-resistant vest (body armor) - is an article of protective clothing that works as a form of armor to minimize injury from projectiles fired from handguns, shotguns and rifles. ... Hypercholesterolemia (literally: high blood cholesterol) is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. ...

Age

Sharon's age is a significant risk factor; he was about 3 months shy of 78 before the first stroke.

Stroke of December 2005

On December 18, 2005 Sharon was sent to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital after suffering a mild stroke, specifically a relatively unusual type of stroke called a paradoxical embolism, in which a clot from the venous circulation crosses over into the arterial circulation through a hole between the right and left atrium called an atrial septal defect (or a patent foramen ovale) and goes to the brain, causing a transient speech and motor disturbance. December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital of Hadassah Ein Karem hospital (Hebrew: בית החולים הדסה עין כרם) is a University hospital in Ein Kerem, a suburb of Jerusalem, Israel. ... A paradoxical embolism is stroke or other forms of arterial thrombosis due to embolism of a thrombus (blood clot) of venous origin through a left-right opening in the heart, typically an atrial septal defect. ... Atrial septal defects (ASD) are a group of congenital heart diseases that enables communication between atria of the heart and may involve the interatrial septum. ...

On his way to the hospital he lost consciousness but regained it shortly thereafter. He reportedly wanted to leave the hospital the evening after his arrival but the hospital wanted him to stay another day. He spent two days in the hospital and was to have had the small hole in his heart repaired by a cardiac catheterization procedure in early January. Consciousness is a quality of the mind generally regarded to comprise qualities such as subjectivity, self-awareness, sentience, sapience, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and ones environment. ... Cardiac catheterization (heart cath) is the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. ...

Stroke of January 2006

On January 4, 2006, in the evening before his designate catheterization, Sharon suffered a second, far more serious stroke. A "massive cerebral hemorrhage" led to bleeding in his brain which doctors eventually brought under control the following morning after performing two separate operations, lasting 14 and 6 hours. Sharon was placed on a ventilator and some reports suggested that he was suffering from paralysis in his lower body, while others said he was still fighting for his life. He was placed in an induced coma and his Prime Ministerial duties were handed over to his deputy, Ehud Olmert. January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A cerebral hemorrhage or hemorrhagic stroke is a form of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or bleeds. ... A medical ventilator is a device designed to provide mechanical ventilation to a patient. ... Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew: אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel. ...

On Friday, January 6, Israeli media reported that Sharon was brought back into the operating theatre after doctors reviewed the results of a brain scan. Hospital officials have declined thus far to comment on these reports. Instead they informed the reporters gathered outside, that Sharon's blood pressure, pulse and intracranial pressure had remained stable overnight. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, the director of Hadassah Hospital, described this as "a positive sign". January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... An operating theatre or operating room is a room within a hospital within which surgical operations are carried out. ... Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the brain. ... Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. ... In medicine, a persons pulse is the throbbing of their arteries as an effect of the heart beat. ... Intracranial pressure, or ICP, is the pressure of the brain, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the brains blood supply within the intracranial space. ...

As of January 9, Sharon was breathing on his own and had responded to pain stimuli on his right side; however, he has not regained consciousness. Doctors have stated that they expect the process of determining the degree of physical and mental impairment that has occurred could take some time to complete. January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sharon diagnosed with brain disease

On January 9, Haaretz reported that while performing tests on Sharon while treating his second stroke, doctors had discovered he was suffering from undiagnosed cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a brain disorder which, in conjunction with blood thinners prescribed after his first stroke, greatly increased his risk of cerebral hemorrhage. Although some have insinuated that this news represents a failure on Hadassah's part to provide adequate care for Sharon, CAA can be very difficult to accurately diagnose, and is often only discovered after an individual suffers a brain hemorrhage. January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. ...

On January 10, newspapers reported that Sharon's CAA had actually been diagnosed following his first stroke in December. This was confirmed by Hadassah's director Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef who commented that "Hadassah physicians were aware of the brain diagnosis, and no new diagnosis has been made during the current hospitalization." Aside from an anonymous Hadassah source quoted by Haaretz characterizing the move as a "screw up", none of Sharon's medical providers have given any explanation over the decision to give Sharon blood thinners in light of the earlier knowledge about his brain condition. January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

By January 25, Sharon had shown response to pain stimulus, but had shown no signs of awaking from his coma despite having been off sedatives for more than a week. The Israeli daily Haaretz quoted experts describing Sharon's condition as a vegetative state, saying he could still wake up, but it might take weeks or months. [2] January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... A persistent vegetative state (PVS) is a condition of patients with severe brain damage in whom coma has progressed to a state of wakefulness without detectable awareness. ...

Emergency surgery

On February 11, 2006, after a stroke, Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery due to serious damage to the digestive system after a CT scan. Doctors believe a small blood clot had caused the damage, which surgeons attempted to find and remove. Hassadah spokeswoman Yael Bossom-Levy described Sharon's condition as critical, with his life in danger. Surgeons have reportedly removed 50 centimetres of Sharon's intestines. [3] February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ... Intraoperative X-Ray of a Humerus fixated by Kirschner wires Surgery (from the Greek meaning hand work) is the medical specialty that treats diseases or injuries by operative manual and instrumental treatment. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... CT apparatus in a hospital Computed tomography (CT), originally known as computed axial tomography (CAT or CT scan) and body section roentgenography, is a medical imaging method employing tomography where digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the internals of an object from a large...

Incapacitation

On 11 April 2006, the Israeli Cabinet deemed that Sharon was incapacitated, with the declaration taking effect on 14 April, formally ending Sharon's term as Prime Minister, and making Ehud Olmert the country's new "interim" Prime Minister. Sharon's replacement had to be named within 100 days of him becoming incapacitated. This was due to expire on 14 April, but was brought forward due to the Jewish festival of Passover. [4] A provision was made that should Sharon's condition improve between April 11 and April 14 the declaration would not take effect. April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ... Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew: אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ... Passover (Hebrew: פסח; transliterated as Pesach or Pesah), also called חג המצות (Chag HaMatzot - Festival of Matzot) is a Jewish holiday which is celebrated in the spring. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ...

Reaction

Israel

Many Israelis, even Sharon's political opponents, were stunned by the news and immediately began sending him good wishes and prayers. Both Chief rabbis of Israel instructed the public to pray for the Prime Minister's health and recovery. // Chief rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognised religious leader of that countrys Jewish community. ...

It was also reported that small groups of right-wing Religious Zionists, largely affiliated with the Kach movement, celebrated the news of Sharon's illness with singing and dancing on January 4 and 5. Several took "personal credit" for the stroke, linking it to a death curse known as Pulsa diNura that they orchestrated in late July 2005, ahead of the Gaza disengagement. Among the celebrants was aspiring politician Baruch Marzel, who attended a party shortly after Sharon's hospitalization to celebrate "the annulment of evil decrees against the people of Israel.". Marzel commented that, "Sharon uprooted graves and destroyed homes and I have no intention to pray for him." [5] Kippot Sruggot: Modern Orthodox Jewish students carry the flag of Israel at a public parade in Manhattan, NY, USA The Religious Zionist Movement, or Religious Zionism, also called Mizrachi, is an ideology combining Zionism and Judaism, which offers Zionism based on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ... The logo of the Kach party. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Pulsa diNura or Pulsa Denoura (Aramaic: פולסא דנורא lashes of fire) is a kabbalistic ceremony in which God is asked to curse someone who is believed to be a sinner. ... Map of the Gaza Strip from The World Factbook. ... Israels unilateral disengagement plan (termed in Hebrew: תוכנית ההתנתקות Tokhnit HaHitnatkut or תכנית ההינתקות Tokhnit HaHinatkut in the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law), also known as the disengagement plan, Gaza Pull-Out plan, and Hitnatkut) was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government and enacted in August 2005, to... Baruch Marzel is an American born right-wing Israeli settler from Hebron. ...

Although these groups were a distinct minority, echoes of resentment and hostility against Sharon by members of the larger Religious Zionist population could also be seen in some rabbis' public refusal to pray for Sharon, such as Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief rabbi of Tzfat and son of former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu. The Jerusalem Post reported that after being asked repeatedly, Eliyahu told several people, "that one should not pray for Sharon's demise, but at the same time it was forbidden to be [dis]ingenuous in prayer". [6] // Chief rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognised religious leader of that countrys Jewish community. ... A Safed neighbourhood Safed (Standard Hebrew צְפַת , commonly spelled Tzfat; Arabic: صفد ; KJV English Zephath) is a city in the North District in Israel. ... Mordechai Eliyahu (1929-) Mordechai Eliyahu was born in Jerusalem in 1929. ... The May 16, 1948 Palestine Post headline announcing the creation of the state of Israel The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli newspaper in the English language, which also publishes on the Internet - [[1]] www. ...

Israeli Arabs also expressed mixed reactions. The head of Israel’s Islamic Movement’s southern branch, Sheikh Abdallah Nimr Darwish, compared him with former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin: "I speak of Sharon as I spoke of Rabin. The day Rabin was assassinated I felt that a window of opportunities was closed, and I feel the same at the moment. Sharon will be remembered as someone who reached a historical peak." Darwish's comments were seen as typical of many moderates in the Arab sector, who had been highly distrustful and critical of Sharon due to his military career and most of his political career prior to his implementation of the Gaza Disengagement, but softened their stance following the withdrawal, and had been cautiously optimistic in seeing what Sharon's future moves would be. Talal al-Kirnawi, the mayor of Rahat, a Bedouin settlement in the Negev, noted: "If you would have asked me to vote for Sharon prior to 2001, I would have favored to cut my hand. However in these elections I proudly called on everyone to vote for him... Sharon is the prime minister for all, and I, as well as many other Arabs, like him very much. We pinned our hopes that he will lead us to peace, and we are worried like everyone else in Israel." (Hebrew: יִצְחָק רָבִּין), (March 1, 1922 – November 4, 1995) was an Israeli politician and general. ... Ruins in the Negev desert The Negev (Hebrew נֶגֶב;, Tiberian Hebrew Néḡeḇ; Arabic النقب an-Naqab) is the desert region of southern Israel. ...

Other Israeli Arabs, more critical of Sharon's past, pointed out a distinction between praying for someone's health and supporting their political future that some saw as reminiscient of some members of the Religious Zionist camp. Sheikh Kamal Khatib, the deputy head of the Islamic Movement’s northern branch, stated: "We do not wish bad things for any man, yet for someone who caused so much evil to his people, we are not crying and do not want him to return to his serve as prime minister."[7] On January 8, a list detailing "Sharon's crimes" was posted on the website of Hadash, a far-left Israeli Arab political party. [8] January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Hadash (חדש) is a far left wing, largely Arab [1], popular front group in Israel made up of the Communist Party of Israel and other left-leaning political groups. ... Arab citizens of Israel is a term used to refer to Arabs who are not Jewish, but are citizens of the State of Israel. ...

The Middle East

The reaction among Palestinian people has been mixed. Hamas has said that the Middle East would be better off without Sharon, a view echoed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, whose leader, Ahmed Jibril told the Associated Press: "[w]e say it frankly that God is great and is able to exact revenge on this butcher. ... We thank God for this gift he presented to us on this new year". [9] Islamic Jihad leader Anwar Abu Taha was quoted as saying "We are not sorry about his health and let him go to hell whether he lives or dies..."^{[cite this quote]} The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... Hamas (Arabic: ‎; acronym: Arabic: ‎, or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement; the Arabic acronym means zeal) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization that currently forms the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين - القيادة العامة) is a left-wing Palestinian nationalist organization, backed by Syria. ... Ahmed Jibril Ahmed Jibril (born 1928) is the founder and leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC), part of the left-wing, secular Palestinian rejectionist front, so-called because they reject proposals for a peaceful settlement with Israel. ... Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ...

However, other Palestinians have spoken positively of Sharon. According to Haaretz, a Palestinian commentator on the Al-Arabiya television network referred to Sharon as "the first Israeli leader who stopped claiming Israel had a right to all of the Palestinians' land", a reference to Israel's unilateral disengagement plan. Ghazi al-Saadi, head of the Amman-based Palestinian Research Center said that "a live Sharon is better for the Palestinians now, despite all the crimes he has committed against us." Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... Al-Arabiya is an Arabic-language satellite news channel based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which began broadcasting in February 2003, launched with an investment of $300 million from the Saudi-owned MBC, the Lebanese Hariri Group, and others. ... Israels unilateral disengagement plan (termed in Hebrew: תוכנית ההתנתקות Tokhnit HaHitnatkut or תכנית ההינתקות Tokhnit HaHinatkut in the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law), also known as the disengagement plan, Gaza Pull-Out plan, and Hitnatkut) was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government and enacted in August 2005, to... Location of Amman within Jordan. ...

Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath said that "On a purely humanitarian level we feel sorry for Mr. Sharon", and he and other Palestinian leaders, including Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas publicly expressed concern over the effect Sharon's illness would have on the peace process. Nabil Shaath (also spelled Shaath, born 1938), a senior Palestinian official, has held the following titles: Palestinian chief negotiator Palestinian cabinet minister Palestinian International Co-operation Minister Planning Minister for the Palestinian National Authority Acting Prime Minister of the PNA Shaath served as Palestines first ever foreign minister... Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: محمود عباس) (born March 26, 1935), commonly known by the kunya Abu Mazen (ابو مازن), was elected President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005 and took office on January 15, 2005. ...

According to the Iranian Students' News Agency, on January 6, controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke to Shiite clerics in the city of Qom and told them he was hoping for Sharon's death. The United States quickly condemned Ahmadinejad's comment as "hateful and disgusting" and U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called Ahmadinejad's remarks "part of a continuing stream of hateful invective that has come from this president." ISNA – The First Students News Agency STUDENT NEWS AGENCY can be introduced in the category of STUDENT MEDIA. Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA,http://isna. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The President of Iran holds a very important office in Irans political establishment. ...   (Persian: , IPA: , transcribed into English as Mahmud or Mahmood, Ahmadinezhad, Ahmadi-Nejad, Ahmadi Nejad, Ahmady Nejad) (born October 28, 1956) is the sixth president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. ... Qom is famous for the shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, first built in the late 8th century. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States Government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ...

Haaretz also reported that "[r]epresentatives from the offices of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah II contacted Sharon's aides to express their concern over the prime minister's condition and their wishes for his recovery." Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... Muhammad Hosni Said Mubarak (Arabic : محمد حسنى سيد مبارك ) (born May 4, 1928) commonly known as Hosni Mubarak (Arabic: حسنى مبارك ) is the fourth President of Egypt since 14 October 1981 till the present day. ... King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein. ...

The United States

U.S. President George W. Bush issued a statement saying he shared the concerns of the Israeli people "and we are praying for his recovery." The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ...

The Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. reported that they had received thousands of messages from well-wishers from all over the United States in the days following the stroke. Seal on the building of German Embassies. ... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., with regard to the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia. ...

However, American televangelist Pat Robertson said on the January 5 edition of his show, The 700 Club, that God was punishing Sharon for dividing Israel. He also suggested that former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995 for the same reason. [10] "He was dividing God's land, and I would say, 'Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the European Union, the United Nations or the United States of America,'" Robertson told his audience. In the USA and Canada, a televangelist (portmanteau for television evangelist) is a religious minister (often a Christian priest or minister) who devotes a large portion of his (or her) ministry to TV broadcasts to a regular viewing and listening audience. ... Marion Gordon Pat Robertson (born March 22, 1930) is a televangelist from the United States. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The on-air personalities of The 700 Club The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing on cables ABC Family and in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. ... (Hebrew: יִצְחָק רָבִּין), (March 1, 1922 – November 4, 1995) was an Israeli politician and general. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Israelis and the Anti-Defamation League condemned Robertson's comments, as did his fellow Christian leaders as well as American government officials, chief among them President Bush, and several days later Israeli officials announced that Robertson would be banned from involvement in a project to build a Christian tourist attraction and pilgrimage site near the Sea of Galilee known as the Christian Heritage Center. The plan had called for Israel leasing 35 acres of land to a group of evangelicals (including Robertson) for free to create several tourist attractions and pilgrimage sites in exchange for the evangelicals raising 50 million dollars in funding. A spokesman for the Tourism Ministry commented, "We cannot accept these statements, and we will not sign any contracts with Mr. Robertson." He added that the decision would not apply to all members of the evangelical community: "We want to see who in the group supports his (Robertson's) statements. Those who support the statements cannot do business with us. Those that publicly support Ariel Sharon's recovery ... are welcome to do business with us." This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ... The Sea of Galilee with the Jordan River flowing out of it to the south and into the Dead Sea Kineret redirects here; for the Amgen drug having this tradename, see Anakinra The Sea of Galilee is Israels largest freshwater lake, approximately 53 kilometers (33 miles) in circumference, about...

Robertson had a letter of apology hand-delivered to the Sharon family, though this has not affected Israeli policy vis-à-vis their relationship with him.

Notes

External links

• Latest News on Ariel Sharon's Health and Medical Condition - from Ariel Sharon's Life Story, a biography
• Toronto Star - Ariel Sharon's massive stroke shakes region
• BBC - Sharon urged to curb his appetite
• BBC - Israeli PM critical after stroke