HOUSTON — Former President George H.W. Bush’s condition improved enough for him to be moved on Saturday out of the intensive care unit and into a regular room at the Houston hospital where he was admitted last month for respiratory problems, a spokesman said.
Bush, 88, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, entered Methodist Hospital on Nov. 23 for treatment of what doctors said was bronchitis, and he was moved into the ICU last Sunday after suffering a number of medical complications, including a persistent fever.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the air passages through the lungs.
“President Bush’s condition has improved, so he has been moved today from the intensive care unit to a regular patient room at the Methodist Hospital to continue his recovery,” the family said in a statement from his spokesman, Jim McGrath.
“The Bushes thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes,” it added.
McGrath said on Friday that Bush’s condition was getting better and that he was even singing at times in his communications with doctors and nurses.
He added in an email reply to Reuters on Saturday, “George Bush is the most relentlessly upbeat man you’ll ever meet, and his spirits have been good throughout this ordeal.” He declined to disclose any information about Bush’s prognosis or how much longer he might remain hospitalized.
Bush, the 41st U.S. president and a Republican, is the father of former President George W. Bush. In a political career spanning four decades, he also served as a congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, envoy to China, CIA director, and vice president for two terms under Ronald Reagan.
Bush has lower-body parkinsonism, which causes a loss of balance, and has used a wheelchair for more than a year.
(Additional reporting and writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Outstanding!
Get well soon Mr. President.
And why am I supposed to give a sh&$?
Because Bush #41 was, in his and his family’s opinion, America’s greatest President, easily surpassing Washington, Lincoln, FDR, and Reagan. To be sure, he changed his views on just about every issue from the time he was a US Rep from Texas to when he became Reagan’s VP. He makes Mitt Romney seem like a model of consistency. His long-time affairs with two women while criticizing others for their lack of “family values” is only the tip of the iceberg. He has led a privileged life and still expects the highest respect from his fellow Americans.
Your hatred spews for anyone that happens to be a conservative. By the way, you’re a jerk.
Dadsworth” it’s neither hatred nor envy, just contempt for someone who, despite his facade of decency and honor, had no core values–like Mitt Romney–and who used every opportunity to get ahead in public life by moving from one position to another to curry favor with Pres. Reagan and other genuine GOP conservatives. Someone who, as I’ve posted earlier this week, refused to pay his fair share of Maine property taxes on his Walker Point estate; and who had two long-term affairs with women not his wives yet had the nerve to demand adherence to Family Values for other politicians. I don’t wish him ill and hope he recuperates fully and lives till 100. But get serious about the man and his modest achievements in public (and private) life.
I sincerely wish him the best. An honest and good man.
Good deal, a great leader he was…..Get well Mr. Bush…
He’ll be in the ground in under 4 weeks book it.
I will be contacting our great Gov. LePage soon with a proposal to rename Mt Katahdin after this great man. It can be in honor of not only Bush 41 but his son too, America’s greatest living public servants. The Bushes have strong Maine ties and this would be the best way to honor them. Mt. Bush has a nice ring to it! No one knows what a Katahdin is, it sounds pretty librul to me!
So true….
I wish him well.
That said, I wonder how many of our health insurance companies would authorize a month and a half hospital stay for bronchitis.