Lady Bird Johnson Suffers Mild Stroke

Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson was in stable condition after she suffered a mild stroke and lost her ability to speak, her doctor said.

“We are still not sure how permanent this is or how severe this is,” Dr. Rodney Horton said. The stroke is at least the second for the 89-year-old Mrs. Johnson since 1993. “It does appear that she has lost the power of speech.”

Mrs. Johnson was taken to a hospital Thursday afternoon after she awoke from a nap at her home and had trouble speaking and swallowing medication. Her doctor said she appears to have suffered damage to a small area on the left side of her brain.

“At the present time, she is fully understanding of everything that is being said, can nod appropriately, but she is unable to find the word,” Horton said.

Luci Baines Johnson said her mother was alert Friday.