Hemmings says he’s fine
after stroke-like symptoms
Sen. Fred Hemmings, the Senate minority leader, suffered a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, last Sunday and was briefly hospitalized.
Hemmings, 57, a former world champion surfer and member of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, said he was released Monday after spending the night in Castle Hospital.
The TIA, Hemmings said, lasted only a few minutes. He said that after he got a complete medical review, including an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), the doctors said he was in good health.
A TIA is caused by temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain, resulting in a sudden, brief decrease in brain function, according to the National Institute of Health.
Hemmings said he felt good enough to fly to Kauai Tuesday to give a speech and by yesterday he was exercising.
"Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated," Hemmings (R, Waimanalo-Lanikai) said.