Buddy West hospitalized
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State representative collapsed Thursday
May 30, 2008 - 1:54PM
BY ELAINE MARSILIO
State Rep. Buddy West remained Friday afternoon at Medical Center Hospital after he collapsed about 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening at a local restaurant.
The representative's wife, Shirley West, said her husband was unconscious and on a respirator. Buddy West was listed Friday afternoon in critical condition at Medical Center, according to the hospital.
When contacted early Friday afternoon, she said he wasn't "well right now."
Buddy West, who's been Odessa state representative for 14 years, had just finished dialysis treatment Thursday evening when he arrived at a restaurant.
Shortly following his arrival at the restaurant, the representative collapsed, she said.
Shirley West said doctors plan to try and take him off the respirator today to see if he can breathe on his own.
"They're going to try and wean him off today to see how he does," Shirley West said. "They've got to do that to see if he's OK."
She said her husband has never experienced an episode like the one Thursday evening, noting he's been doing "very, very well with dialysis."
West has been on dialysis treatment since Dec. 23, 2007.
Shirley West said she feels confident her husband will make it through and regain consciousness.
"I have faith in God, and we've prayed constantly, and we just feel like he's going to be OK," Shirley West said.
West served eight terms in the state legislature. His final term ends Dec. 31.
Buddy West improving
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Daughter says representative making progress
May 31, 2008 - 5:48PM
BY CASEY FORAN
The family of Buddy West is continuing to pray as the district 81 representative was improving but still in critical condition Saturday afternoon at Medical Center Hospital.
Lori Bennington, West's daughter, said her father had shown great improvement from when he first arrived at Medical Center Hospital on Thursday night.
"We're making progress," Bennington said. "He's opened his eyes and he's squeezed our hands."
Anabel Spencer, the executive director of communications/marketing for Medical Center Hospital, said West was still in critical condition.
Buddy West, who's been Odessa state representative for 14 years, collapsed Thursday night at Harrigan's. He had just finished dialysis treatment Thursday evening when he arrived at the restaurant.
Bennington said West was still on a ventilator but the doctors were slowly weaning him off of the machine.
"They decreased it to 60-40," she said. "He's breathing on his own 60 percent and is on the ventilator for 40 percent of the time."
West started dialysis Dec. 23, 2007, while in Medical Center Hospital. In February, West's doctor said he was on dialysis four hours a day, three days a week.
West still critical
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Family: He's taking it one day at a time
June 2, 2008 - 4:57PM
ODESSA AMERICAN
State Rep. Buddy West's daughter Lori Bennington said her father remained today at Medical Center Hospital - taking it "one day at a time."
MCH officials said the 16-year state legislator from Odessa remained in critical condition today at the hospital.
Bennington said her father is "somewhat conscious" and has started recognizing relatives.
"He's a fighter," she said. "There's just no change."
