Attorneys: George Ryan's Wife Has 3-6 Months To Live
Updated: 12/15/10 9:27 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) - Attorneys for convicted former governor George Ryan have made another appeal to have him released from prison on bail, saying doctors have told them his wife might have as little as three months to live.
She thought she had years. Doctors now say she has just months. The health of former Illinois first lady Lura Lynn Ryan has taken a turn for the worse. Doctors have found a new tumor in her lung.
Now the push is on to get former governor George Ryan out of prison -- in time.
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Ryan's attorneys filed a motion Wednesday that adds medical information about Lura Lynn Ryan to his bail request.
"I'm just anxious to get George home so he can spend a few more years with me, what time I have left," said Lura Lynn Ryan last month, when she thought she had about one to two years to live.
She's battling incurable lung disease.
But on Wednesday, her husband's lawyer and friend of more than 30 years, Jim Thompson, announced a new tumor could take Lura Lynn Ryan's life much sooner.
"We discovered last night some very grave news, that she has a seven centimeter tumor in her left lung," said Thompson.
Thompson told reporters the tumor didn't show up in scans taken just seven months ago.
"It's a very fast growing, aggressive tumor that may have spread to the bones and her liver. That is being double-checked," said Thompson. "But in the meantime, we've renewed out motion for bail before Judge Pallmeyer."
Thompson filed a motion before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer Wednesday afternoon, asking her to grant Ryan bond, so he can be by his wife's side.
Pallmeyer is considering a motion to throw out parts of the former governor's 2006 conviction. Just a few weeks ago, Thompson argued the Ryan's mail fraud conviction should be voided.
In that case, George Ryan is accused of steering state contracts and leases to political insiders while he was secretary of state and while he was governor for one term.
Defense lawyers have called the anti-fraud laws the case is based on "too vague."
They say the "honest services" laws are used as a last resort of prosecutors who lack evidence to prove money is changing hands in corruption cases.
The court was also asked to release Ryan on bond, while that motion was pending.
Thompson said that with Mrs. Ryan's new health crisis, the former governor is hoping to be with his wife of more than 50 years during this critical time.
"She is all he has left aside from his children and grandchildren and he is all she has left," Thompson said. "Everything else has been taken from him. We're hoping Judge Pallmeyer will take this into account and grant our motion for bail."
Thompson argues the 76-year-old former governor should be released from federal prison on his own recognizance.
"He's not going anywhere," said Thompson. "He's going to Kankakee if he's released. He's gonna be at her bedside. He's not going anywhere else."
Thompson says the judge could rule at any time, even before they present the new information on Mrs. Ryan's advancing disease at a hearing December 22nd.
"All she lives for now is to see her husband come out and spend her last days with him," said Thompson. "And it's clear now that her last days are coming much more quickly."
A biopsy for Mrs. Ryan's tumor is scheduled for Monday.
Newsradio 780's Steve Miller, CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot and Pamela Jones, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
