65 days in intensive care for KY House leader ‘tough on the mind as well as the body.’

For more than 65 days, Kentucky House Majority Floor Leader John “Bam” Carney has battled a severe case of pancreatitis and infection in the intensive care unit at Norton Hospital in Louisville.

His brother Mark Carney’s posts on social media about the lawmaker’s health crisis have been both wrenching and hopeful in the time that Carney, R-Campbellsville, has been hospitalized since Dec. 23. The lawmaker is talking, drinking fluids for the first time in more than two months and regaining strength while still fighting infection, Mark Carney has said.

“Today is day 65 for Bam in the same bed and the same ICU room at Norton’s Hospital, but it has been a glorious day for sure,” Mark Carney posted on Facebook this week. “Bam passed a swallowing test this morning and as a result of that has been able to take a drink of water for the first time in 65 days. He is also able to have apple juice... as well as ice chips. I can only imagine how that first drink of water tasted.”

“He also got the chest tube taken out this morning. The chest tube had been in for two weeks draining fluid from around the lungs,” the post said.

“Surgeons are still keeping a close watch on the belly wound and all the drains that are draining bile and infection from the pancreas and other organs within the stomach area,” said the post.“ As far as physical therapy he is doing well and making some strides even though he has lost lots of muscle mass in shoulders, arms and legs. He is still a weak man that will require lots of physical therapy but we rejoice in the progress we have been able to witness. To God be the Glory and the Thanks. “

In a Facebook message Wednesday in response to questions about Carney, his sister-in-law Kelly Benningfield Carney shared her husband’s most recent post and said, “God has given us the strength to carry on.”

On Feb. 18, Mark Carney said in a post that “Bam continues to improve in lots of areas. While he still can’t lift his arms or legs he is now able to move his left arm and hand 6-8 inches in a left or right direction.”

“He has gotten much better at holding his head up. He had a great round of physical therapy today sitting on the side of the bed for 26 minutes and while sitting there did lots of exercises with the hands, feet, arms, legs and shoulders,” the post said. “His voice is getting stronger and he is getting more comfortable with the speaking valve. “

“58 days in ICU can be tough on the mind as well as the body,” the post said.

Mark Carney this week also thanked people for their many acts of kindness, words of encouragement and prayers.

State Rep. Kevin Bratcher, R-Louisville, posted on Facebook that a day of prayer and encouragement for Carney was set for Friday, March 6. People are encouraged to host their own prayer event at noon that day.

In response to questions from the Herald-Leader, Bratcher said in a post that “Bam’s reationship to our House caucus goes well beyond his Floor Leader position.”

“It is seen more in his natural down-home demeanor that quickly puts people at ease. (He gets that from his mom and if you have ever met her you’d know what I mean. He was raised right),” Bratcher posted.

“Bam Carney is a friend to us all and we all sense the daily absence of his kind, calming affect that he generates around our free-spirited, energetic caucus. We just plain miss him and continue to pray for him to come through those House Chamber doors once again...and very soon,” Bratcher said.

To compensate for Carney’s absence from the legislature, the duties of majority floor leader are being handled by State Rep. Steven J. Rudy, R-Paducah.

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 1:09 PM.