Illnesses plaguing some state lawmakers

Friday, Jan. 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Two weeks ago, state Sen. Jack Regan of North Las Vegas was near death.

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Bob Price of North Las Vegas almost lost part of his foot because of an infection. And Sen. Mike Schneider of Las Vegas may not make it to the opening of the Legislature because of a case of pneumonia.

It's a case of the walking wounded among Clark County lawmakers as they get set to convene Monday. Regan and Price are in Carson City and Schneider is still in Las Vegas, under the care of a doctor.

Earlier this month, Regan entered the hospital for treatment of blockage of a bowel duct. But things turned bad. He developed an air embolism, the blockage of a blood vessel.

Doctors had to cut into an artery in his neck that "saved my life," Regan said. "I did die and they brought me back."

That happened on Jan. 9 and he was out of University Medical Center the following day. He has glowing praise for the young doctors who took care of him during the surgery.

He's still in pain when he sports a tie that tightens the shirt collar on his neck where the incision is. And it still hurts where the IV needles were inserted.

Price suffered an infection on his left foot. "I had a sore on my foot, it got infected and it blew up like a balloon. If they (doctors) had not got it in time, I would have lost half of my foot."

Price had two surgeries and is now using a wheelchair and crutches to get around the legislative building. He says he's been told by doctors he may be on crutches for five months because his diabetes makes healing slower.

Schneider was hit twice by pneumonia in the past two months. "I worked hard and I got rundown during the campaign," he said.

Once, he said, "I had to get breathing treatment to get my lung going."

"I can't shake it," he said. After his first bout with pneumonia, Schneider said he went to La Jolla near San Diego to lay on the beach. He was close to the Scripps Medical Center and took a lot of antibiotics.

But it came back. "I've got a bad dose," he said.

Schneider said he may make it to Carson City for the swearing-in ceremony Monday but he may have to return to Las Vegas for more rest after that.

Schneider won election to the Senate in November after serving in the Assembly. He was named minority whip for the Democrats.

All three are Democrats.