Former President George H.W. Bush in intensive care
HOUSTON (AP) — Former President George H.W. Bush has been admitted to the intensive care unit at a Houston hospital “following a series of setbacks including a persistent fever,” but he is alert and talking to medical staff, his spokesman said Wednesday.
Jim McGrath, Bush’s spokesman in Houston, said in a brief email that Bush was admitted to the ICU at Methodist Hospital on Sunday. He said doctors are cautiously optimistic about his treatment and that the former president “remains in guarded condition.”
No other details were released about his medical condition, but McGrath said Bush is surrounded by family.
The 88-year-old has been hospitalized since Nov. 23, when he was admitted for a lingering cough related to bronchitis after having been in and out of the hospital for complications related to the illness.
Earlier Wednesday, McGrath said a fever that kept Bush in the hospital over Christmas had gotten worse and that doctors had put him on a liquids-only diet.
“It’s an elevated fever, so it’s actually gone up in the last day or two,” McGrath told The Associated Press. “It’s a stubborn fever that won’t go away.”
But he said the cough that initially brought Bush to the hospital has improved.
Bush was visited on Christmas by his wife, Barbara, his son, Neil, and Neil’s wife, Maria, and a grandson, McGrath said. Bush’s daughter, Dorothy, was expected to arrive Wednesday in Houston from Bethesda, Md. The 41st president has also been visited twice by his sons, George W. Bush, the 43rd president, and Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida.
Bush and his wife live in Houston during the winter and spend their summers at a home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
The former president was a naval aviator in World War II — at one point the youngest in the Navy — and was shot down over the Pacific. He achieved notoriety in retirement for skydiving on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House in 1992.
Dec 27, 2012 at 5:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
He made one more attack on our former enemy when he puked in that Japanese guy's lap.
Dec 27, 2012 at 3:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Here is some further info regarding former Pres. Bushs' wartime sevice:
Bush piloted one of four Grumman TBM Avenger aircraft from VT-51 that attacked the Japanese installations on Chichijima.[6] His crew for the mission, which occurred on September 2, 1944, included Radioman Second Class John Delaney and Lieutenant Junior Grade William White.[1] During their attack, the Avengers encountered intense anti-aircraft fire; Bush's aircraft was hit by flak[7] and his engine caught on fire.[1] Despite his plane being on fire, Bush completed his attack and released bombs over his target, scoring several damaging hits.[1] With his engine afire, Bush flew several miles from the island, where he and one other crew member on the TBM Avenger bailed out of the aircraft;[7] the other man's parachute did not open.[1] It has not been determined which man bailed out with Bush[1] as both Delaney and White were killed as a result of the battle.[7] Bush waited for four hours in an inflated raft, while several fighters circled protectively overhead until he was rescued by the lifeguard submarine USS Finback.[1] For the next month he remained on the Finback, and participated in the rescue of other pilots.
One thing not noted in the article I sourced for the above info...4 other Naval Aviators shot down and captured during the same attack that Bushs' plane was shot down, were beheaded by Imperial Japanese troops on the island they were attacking.
Lt(jg)George H.W. Bush almost became a casualty had he shared his shipmates fates.
god bless and godspeed Mr. Bush
Dec 27, 2012 at 2:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War
Dec 27, 2012 at 12:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
God Bless you President Bush. My prayers will be with you.
Dec 27, 2012 at 7:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
Excellent post fordfan I couldn't agree more.
Dec 27, 2012 at 7:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
May God Bless President Bush. He is a true, honorable Gentleman.
Dec 27, 2012 at 12:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
A true Statesman.
Dec 26, 2012 at 10:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. He has been a good leader when our nation needed him - before, during and after his presidency.
Dec 26, 2012 at 8:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Thinking of our former president, and hoping for his recovery.
Dec 26, 2012 at 8:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Best wishes to get well Former President George H.W. Bush.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.