Tom Bradley Suffers Stroke, Listed as ‘Serious’

Former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley was in serious condition late Thursday after suffering a stroke earlier in the day, leaving doctors concerned but cautiously hopeful about his chances of regaining the speech and movement lost in the episode.

Bradley suffered the stroke a day after undergoing successful triple bypass heart surgery at Kaiser Permanente’s Hollywood hospital. The five-term mayor has been hospitalized for the past two weeks after suffering a heart attack as he returned from a business meeting.

“As to his prognosis, time will tell,” said Dr. Fred Alexander, Bradley’s lead physician, at an afternoon news conference. “We don’t like to speculate. We are hopeful that he will have a full return of function, but I cannot say that that will occur.”

Early in the day, the 78-year-old Bradley lost all movement on his right side and was unable to speak. He initially responded “very poorly” to doctors’ commands.

Later in the day, Bradley seemed to recognize doctors and family members and was nodding in response to questions. He also regained some movement, wiggling his toes slightly.

The brain trauma occurred about 5 a.m. Doctors speculated that a blood clot, perhaps originating in his heart, broke loose and became lodged in the left side of his brain.

Doctors said so-called “embolic” strokes are unusual but not unprecedented after cardiac surgery--occurring in 3% to 5% of cases.

Even at his age, doctors said there is no reason that the athletic, energetic Bradley cannot make a full recovery. Alexander rejected a description of Bradley’s condition as “paralysis.”

“The term paralysis is a very permanent kind of term,” Alexander said. “I don’t want to use that kind of term. There was no movement early on but we are seeing some movement now.”

Bradley’s wife, Ethel, and his two daughters were at the hospital throughout Wednesday’s surgery. Family members remained with Bradley on Thursday, although they did not speak to the media.

Doctors said the surgery had proven successful and that Bradley’s blood pressure and heart rhythm were greatly improved after the bypass surgery. “He is very strong in that respect,” Alexander said.

Bradley’s friends and admirers said they hoped that the former All-American track star’s athleticism and healthful lifestyle would serve him well during his recovery. The former mayor adheres to a strict diet and worked out daily on a stationary bicycle.

Bishop H. H. Brookins and the Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray of the First A.M.E. Church visited Bradley on Thursday and Brookins told KTLA-TV that Bradley is “in good spirits, determined as always. . . . He was almost ready to get up out of the bed if they would allow him.”

On the day he left office nearly three years ago, Bradley walked through the streets of Downtown Los Angeles to his new job as a high-level liaison and “rainmaker” for the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison.

He was driving home from a meeting with clients March 20 when he suffered chest pains and was hospitalized. Bypass surgery was scheduled earlier this week when Bradley became weak and short of breath during testing.

The surgery was pronounced a success and Bradley was recovering normally before the stroke.