Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted to the hospital last weekend where he was treated for an acute respiratory problem that caused shortness of breath and coughing stemming from pneumonia. Doctors cleared his airway and put the 92-year-old on IV antibiotics. When his condition worsened, he was put in the intensive care unit at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, January 18. It was the same day, his wife, Barbara Bush, was also hospitalized. The 91-year-old was admitted to the same hospital as a precaution because of persistent coughing and fatigue.
Hospitalization
CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported that the former president was intubated and sedated because he was having difficulty breathing on his own. Dr. Gupta says this is concerning.
Bush, the oldest living president, was not expected to attend the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump on Friday, January 20. He sent a letter to the President-elect on January 10 explaining he was not attending because of his health. The letter also stated that the former president and Mrs. Bush wished Trump the very best as he begins leading our great country. Trump wished the Bushes a speedy recovery on Twitter and thanked them for their letter.
Looking forward to a speedy recovery for George and Barbara Bush, both hospitalized. Thank you for your wonderful letter!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2017
Former President Bill Clinton also tweeted his thoughts and sent wishes to the president he defeated, as well as to his wife.
He lovingly referred to them by their numbers: 41 and 42.
41 and Barbara—thinking about you both and sending wishes for a speedy recovery. Love, 42.
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) January 18, 2017
During President Barack Obama's last news conference at the White House on Wednesday, he said he had been in touch with the Bush family.
He noted that they were good friends, and a source of support over the years, as well as having dedicated their lives to this country.
Previous health concerns
This is not the first Hospitalization of President Bush. Several years ago he suffered from a form of Parkinson's disease that left him unable to walk. Therefore, he uses a wheelchair or a scooter.
In December 2014, he was hospitalized after experiencing shortness of breath. Then in July 2015, he fell in his home in Kennebunkport, Maine and broke the C2 vertebra in his neck.
The country is wishing George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush a speedy recovery. The husband and wife just celebrated being married 72 years. They got married on January 6, 1945.
