Former First Lady Barbara Bush has been admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston, a spokesperson for the hospital has confirmed.
There is every reason to be optimistic — that is the message from the Bush family as 88-year-old former first lady Barbara Bush is being treated at Methodist Hospital, where she’s receiving treatments for the respiratory illness. She was brought in when early signs of pneumonia appeared, giving her an excellent prognosis, a hospital spokesperson says.
KTRK political consultant Peter Roussel is a long-time friend of the Bush family.
He said, “I have known Barbara Bush since 1969. That is 44 years. Having known her as I have, I have total confidence in her period, exclamation mark.”
In a statement, the family says: “She is in great spirits, has already received visits from her husband and family, and is receiving fantastic care.”
Barbara Bush came to Methodist in 2009, when she had an aortic valve replaced. Doctors said she did very well with the surgery and recovered quickly. She also was hospitalized in November 2008, when she underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer. In 2010, she was admitted to the hospital after having a mild relapse of Graves disease, a thyroid condition for which she was treated in 1989.
“She has a big, big heart,” said Roussel.
Just last week, Mrs. Bush and her husband, the 41st president, honored a Houston businessman and philanthropist with a Points of Light Award, a volunteer service award started by the former president.
The year 2013 has been a tough one for the Bush family. Former pPesident George HW Bush was hospitalized for more than six weeks at Methodist Hospital for bronchitis. Now his wife is the one battling an upper respiratory infection.
There’s no word when Mrs. Bush will be going home, but she is said to be doing well.
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Via ABC News
