Teary Austin thanks fellowaldermen
“The prayers that you all sent up is why I sit here. Maybe God didn’t hear me. But he truly heard you all. And for that, I could never, ever thank you enough,” the alderman said of support she received during a health crisis.
After soldiering through two weeks of City Council budget hearings, an emotional Budget Committee Chairman Carrie Austin ( 34th) wrapped up the show Friday with what sounded like a political swan song.
Through tears of joy, Austin talked in surprising detail about the health crisis that nearly killed her. It was stunning in an era when federal health privacy laws allow public officials to conceal the true nature of their health issues.
“I tore my aorta. I almost wasn’t here. But I’m grateful that God allowed me to be here. I was in the hospital 29 days. For the first two weeks, I was unconscious. I was in a coma. Blood pressure went up over 300. The bottom number was 205. They couldn’t bring it down. But I’m grateful for the God that I serve because I’m sitting here today,” Austin said as her colleagues applauded.
“When I came home, I was home a week. The rest of it was tearing . . . I went to the hospital at Northwestern. I got three stents. So, I’m doing pretty good unless it decides to go the other way. Then, it’ll be instant death. But if it happens, I’m ready to see the Lord because I have served him all ofmy life.”
Austin, who is deeply religious, then talked about the power of prayer.
“The prayers that you all sent up is why I sit here. Maybe God didn’t hear me. But he truly heard you all. And for that, I could never, ever thank you enough,” Austin said.
“The other day when I was particularly ticked with the [ police] superintendent and my vice chair came back and said, ‘ Are you all right?’ it did my heart so well. Then, for the rest of you all to come up and see was I OK, that’s the care you all had for me. I could never thank you enough. Never. When I leave this Council chambers, my family and I will be forever grateful to all of you. Because whether you like me, love me, can’t stand me or whatever, you prayed that I would be back here.”
Choking back tears, Austin talked openly about how difficult it was to make it through the last two weeks.
“Some days were bad. Some days were real hard. But he allowed me to carry out the duties ’ cause that’s what I prayed for: ‘ Lord, just give me the strength so that I can do my duty — even if it’s for the last time.’ And he allowed me to do my duty,” Austin said.
“Even though I laugh and joke with you all, that’s to make the day go better. If I’ve offended anybody, I’m sorry. Charge it tomy head and never to my heart ’ cause I love each and every one of you even though you make me sick and get onmy nerves.”
Rookie Ald. David Moore ( 17th) touched off Austin’s emotional soliloquy by presenting the chairman with a bouquet of flowers.
Moore was celebrating the tenacity and determination that allowed Austin to show up every day and spend far more time with her hand on the gavel than anybody thought she would.
“She could have made many excuses not to come here and be here. As colleagues, we would have understood,” Moore told Austin.
Austin cried when she returned to City Hall on the day Emanuel delivered his budget address. She said she would “try not to cry this time.”
“Yes, Ald. Moore, it has been a struggle. But I am glad to say that . . . I’ve gotten a good bill of health. So, I’m grateful for that,” she said.
Though she joined the call for Police Supt. Garry McCarthy’s ouster before playing a more diplomatic role at the Police Department’s budget hearing, Austin is Emanuel’s most powerful African- American supporter.
On Friday, Austin thanked Moore for the bouquet of flowers.
“I’ve gotten enough flowers at home. I’ve got flowers inmy office. Good Lord. They think I’m dead. But flowers for a person while they yet live — while they can smell them— thank you. We made it through. And this meeting stands adjourned,” she said.
“I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU EVEN THOUGH YOUMAKE ME SICK AND GET ON MY NERVES.”
Ald. Carrie Austin ( 34th), to fellow aldermen