He always said how much he hated going to the hospitals. He became more (vocal) about how much he hated it after he retired, but he always said he hated it.

I don't know that he always liked himself, deep down . . . but then other days he'd feel like he was invincible. We had some good times in 18 years, so there's a bond. I loved him dearly and part of me still does.

He always expected to die young, and I thought that was really a tragedy. It's almost like he had a premonition.

Kirby always said he was going to die before he turned 50. I'm praying he gets through this.

We understand that the Louisiana attorney general is investigating all deaths that occurred at New Orleans hospitals and nursing homes after the hurricane, and we fully support and are cooperating with him.

In the case of emergency angioplasty, for hospitals it seems that it's not just how many you do, but how used to doing them you are. The overall commitment to doing emergency angioplasties, and the protocols and staffing that come out of that commitment, appear to be key.