Councilman recovering from surgery

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, December 5, 2012

FRANKLIN—Franklin City Councilman Don Blythe continues to recover from cranial bypass surgery on Nov. 16 in Manhasset, N.Y.

“He’s doing very good,” Blythe’s daughter, Becky Cumbey of Franklin, said Monday.

Blythe in late October suffered a stroke while in Portsmouth and was taken to Maryview Hospital in that city. It was then decided to take the 67-year-old to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset for the bypass surgery, which is done to increase blood flow to the brain.

Blythe was in the intensive care unit for three to four days after the six-hour surgery and is now in a regular room, Cumbey said. He is also in physical therapy.

Cumbey has no idea when her father will be coming home.

“The family appreciates all the prayers and thoughts,” she said.

Cumbey, 44, and her brothers, Geoff Blythe, 45, of Manhattan and Don Blythe Jr., 48, of Suffolk have been with their father in the hospital. Don Blythe’s wife, Lynn, also has been there.

Blythe has represented Ward 6 on City Council since being elected to a four-year term in May 2010.