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Subscribe to RSSFormer President George H.W. Bush is currently in the intensive care unit where his doctors have prescribed him a liquid-only diet. NBC's Natalie Morales reports.
Updated at 7:08 p.m. ET: Former President George H.W. Bush was battling an elevated fever Wednesday and was in "guarded condition" in a hospital intensive care unit, a family spokesman said.
"The President is alert and conversing with medical staff, and is surrounded by family," said a statement from family spokesman Jim McGrath. Bush, 88, was moved to the intensive care unit at The Methodist Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in Houston on Sunday, McGrath said.
Bush has been in the hospital since Nov. 29 for treatment of complications related to bronchitis. After initial expectations that he would be hospitalized for only a few days proved to be wrong, doctors said through a hospital statement on Dec. 13 that they expected Bush would "be able to celebrate Christmas at home."
But the 41st president remained at The Methodist Hospital -- where he was visited on Christmas by his wife, Barbara, his son, Neil, Neil's wife, and his grandson, Pierce -- all of whom brought him a meal of Chinese food for Christmas dinner, The Houston Chronicle reported.
He also received gifts, emails, and telephone calls from family members and close friends, NBC's Janet Shamlian reported.
On Wednesday, McGrath told NBC News that the former president's fever was elevated from the previous day, although he said that he did not know by how much. Earlier, McCrath had said that doctors saw a "slight improvement" in Bush's condition that morning.
McGrath said that Dorothy Bush, his daughter, visited Wednesday, and George W. Bush, the 43rd president, would be visiting soon.
Bronchitis is a common condition in which the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed and produce mucus, which creates the need to cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can turn serious in people with weak immune systems, including children and the elderly. Symptoms such as chest pain, weakness and coughing typically last two weeks, but can linger for as long as two months.
In the weeks since he was admitted, Bush has had a low-grade fever, but doctors have said they are "cautiously optimistic" he will recover, Shamlian reported.
George Kovacik, a hospital spokesman, said in a statement earlier this week that Bush was in stable condition.
“His doctors feel he should build up his energy before going home. They remain optimistic about his full recovery and are being extra cautious with his care,” the statement said.
Robert Sullivan / AFP - Getty Images
Leader of an American political dynasty, George Bush's influence was felt beyond his terms as president and vice president. Take a look back at his life and career.
Bush was elected president of the United States in 1988, the capstone of a long career of public service.
He was a Texas Republican member of the House of Representatives in the 1960s and 1970s and head of the CIA in 1976-1977. The organization’s headquarters in Langley, Va., was later renamed the “George Bush Center for Intelligence.”
Bush lost his first bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency in 1980, at which time Ronald Reagan chose him to be his running mate. He went on to serve two terms as Reagan’s vice president before winning the presidency. He was defeated for re-election in 1992 by Bill Clinton.
In late 2004, Bush teamed up with Clinton to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami. That effort was so successful, the two former presidents did the same for Katrina victims in 2005.
President George H.W. Bush remains in the hospital. NBC News' Janet Shamlian reports.
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Leave a Comment:
If it truly exists...Hell awaits his arrival.
Your place is waiting also ElRoi65.
It does exist and you are not the judge, so don't worry yourself over it.
Die you communist!!!!! BinLaden lover... May you be burried in Saidi where your true family lives!!!!
if we hate the past will the future endure we will all meet are maker
Get well, Mr. President!
He may have been a decent man, but he caused the massacres of the shiites and Kurds in Iraq by Saddam.He encouraged them to topple Saddam and then abandoned them and did nothing as they were being massacred.He could've removed Saddam if he wanted to, but he left him in power knowing full well what he'd to his people.That's not honorable or human.
He was also a member of skull and bones, that's not honorable.I wish him a full recovery.I voted for him in 1988 because I thought he was "a decent man", the last time I ever voted republican.He, and his murdering idiot of a son, will have to answer for their crimes against the Iraqi people sooner or later.I hope his son rots in hell.
I'm sure the soldiers and citizens of VietNam join you in wishing the same for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
Bet the hospital kept him there sucking money off that nice retirement package he got for being president until he contract a hospitsl aquired pnemonia. Not good at his age. Hope the ole boy gets past and get the hell out that hospital asap. Good Luck George!!!
Wishing all the best for Mr. Bush. Hope he recovers soon.
Some of the people commenting about an Ex President in bad health better hope there is no such thing as Karma. I don't see how some of you can live your life with the additude you have. But yet the Left is such a diverse & peace loving group of people. All so inclusive in the land of milk & honey. Kumbaya Kumbaya
fever and and breathing problems not good for older folks, I wish him recovery. Might not have liked his politics and all but the man does not deserve the continued spewed vitriol evidenced by some posts. He may have done things, being head of the CIA, that should not be shown the light of day but I believe him to be a sincere patriot. don't like his kid, but that really doesn't matter, he served America as best he could.
Oh quiet Kevin, doesn't really matter which party affiliates are venting now does it.
skyparrot
Your not going to believe this but: Thank you for your class post. I have a soft spot for old people, don't care where they are from.
Kevin, you may not believe this, but I believe you, truly a rare thing but yes I believe you.
Peace
My dad will be 94 come Jan. 2nd, and I worry, so fragile and vulnerable--but I am lucky, plenty of get up and go, WWII and Korean War Vet, my hero. a really good guy.
Peace
Hopefully he can spend New Year's in a coma..
Jae-2463678
How long has yours lasted?
Who friggin cares. This should not be news, just another old tard...
The organization’s headquarters in Langley, Va., was later renamed the “George Bush Center for Intelligence.”...........WOW ...How's that for an oxymoron?In a related article,(also FULL of oxymorons) it was stated that though they thought their son G.W.Bush was BORN DEAD, it turned out he was just a DELIBERATE MISTAKE. His Presidency was described as CONTROLLED CHAOS full of CONSTANT CHANGE, as he seemed to be CLEARLY CONFUSED and his head was FULLY EMPTY > As for his GENUINELY FAKE son G.W., who always thought the best way to lead was to walk behind them, and the best cure for insomnia was to get a lot of sleep, he wonders why he doesn't come to visit him in the hospital.maybe he was FOUND MISSING...In the GEORGE BUSH CENTER FOR INTELLIGENCE....LMAO>>.Bet if he dropped dead right now he'd be the happiest man alive
ursofakingfunny
Can you speak English too?
URSOfkingstupid... shouldn't be questioning anyones intelligence,^re-read your post. I'd wager you cannot fly a kite, much less a fighter plane. We pray for you Mr President.
The great end of an ERROR...
hoping you feel better soon. Wishing all the best for you and your family. Thank you for your servce to our country and to our lives. May you and your family have a good 2013.
I dont like to wish ill on any one. But when it comes to the Bush's I realy hope He burns in hell for what he has done to this county especially his son jr bush. Through them, they sold this country out, lock, stock, and barrel. They are Traitors to this country and they will get what they deserve.
doncat - try to mask your ignorance. Since you seem to wish hell upon others, I assume you purport to be a person of faith (of some sort). If so, read the Book of Jude..."they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities" among other worthwhile sayings. Also..."the Archangel Michael dared not bring a railing accusation (against Satan), but said, "The Lord rebuke Thee."
I would counter by saying that you are a traitor to this country.
No I'm not a religious Fanatic tossing around quotes from the bible. I do the research and articulate the knowledge in my own words. I don't need to steal quotes to justify my thoughts. also instead of quoting how about you do some reading. Like the constitution and the bill of rights. If you do the research you will find that both Bush's as well as Obama have broken many Constitutional Laws That they were and are bound to. So, if wanting Peace rather than War, Wanting truth over lies, wanting to care for the Poor rather than protecting the interest of the wealthy, OK i guess I'm a traitor.
Oh since you use only your words and not those of others, you must have invented the concept of hell. You must be incredibly old.
Oh, and I think you're talking about the Kennedy family, moreso than the Bush family.
Mr. Bush may want to move to a warmer climate for awhile. I have COPD and every winter I catch pneumonia and my lungs are full of phlegm. It got so bad that I thought I was dying so I moved to Surinam South America to die. There, the congestion went away and my breathing became much better. Before, I couldn't walk a block without resting. After a few months I was walking all over town and riding a motorcycle all the time. In fact, I even moved back to the states. When winter came around, I started getting sick again. Now I live in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and my breathing is fine. I think Mr. Bush should come on down. It sure helped me. Maybe it can help him.
Wish Mr. Bush well. But at his age, something like bronchitis is a problematical thing. He may have been the last person to be President who, because of a long record of public service, actually deserved the office. The Presidential elections since he left office seem to me to have been mostly beauty contests; with as much attention paid to capabilities as might be paid in electing a high school class president.
One of the "great" Fascists of all time...
personally i feel like he should get just as good care as the wounded soldier gets,,,of course if that happened he'd be dead by now
I am praying for a speedy recovery Former President Bush Sr. God bless you and your family.
My mom always said if you can't say something good about someone then don't say anything at all. I wish you a quick and speedy recovery.
Idiotic: great post!
I think you meant to say "Idiotic: Idiotic post."
In my opinion one of the best prepared and qualified men we've ever had become President. I hope he pulls through. A truly great American.
I wish you a speedy recovery, Sir. You are the last president of the United States that did not bring shame and division to the American people by being an idiot or a whore. Hopefully the next president that is elected models their presidency after yours and does not try to emulate any of the three stooges that followed you.
WOW!! I'm a registered Democrat, and actually agree with your post ! Go figure...........
Get Well, President Bush.
As head of the Bush crime family, this piece of human waste can't die soon enough. I laughed at all the idiotic sheep who posted all the flowery comments about this thug. No wonder this country is in the shape its in. Since most people have memory spans of knats, i'll refresh your memory for you. Such as Iran-contra scandel, Silverado savings and loan tax payer rip off, Iraq war 1 lies (babies thrown out of incubators for one) that started that countries 20+ years of misery. I can go on and on and on
Iran Contra was Reagan. Colonel North. Memory glitch??? He didn't stay in Iraq, remember???He didn't bring us NAFTA, or occupy & rebuild Iraq & Afghanistan, and he didn't do his best to weaken the Constitution, like later leaders.
Rick Bushey
Yeah, if it hadn't been for Bush Sr. I'm sure Iraq would have been the World's New Uptopia by now. Sadam had everything going his way untill Bush screwed it up.
Normally I wouldn't defend any politician, but this is truly a great American. Let's discuss you for a minute: First, the word is spelled "gnats" not "knats".
So G.H.W. Bush was lying about Iraq invading Kuwait? The reason he worked cooperatively with other nations was to push the Iraqis out of Kuwait. I'm confused as to how some lies about incubators has turned into us getting into Operation Desert Storm. He represents the last president that expected people to actually work for themselves and not have the government provide for the people. Perhaps you, Rick Bushey, and the people like you are the reason this nation is in the shape it is in today. Ever consider that it may be you that is the problem?
rick .. you are a fool... no thats to easy.. you are a ------
I never voted for him and worked against his re-election, but I do wish him well now.
Anyone who wishes him ill is a cretin and an Arsehole.