George H.W. Bush To Be Moved From ICU, Wife Released
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HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Doctors gave an update this morning on the health of former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara.
Dr. Amy Mynderse opened a press conference saying, "Today is a great day actually. Mrs. Bush has been discharged from the hospital and President Bush will be moved from the ICU to a regular floor today. So, they're both doing really, really well."
The 92-year-old former president had been struggling to breathe and was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital January 14. Ninety-one-year-old Barbara Bush was recovering from bronchitis and entered the same hospital four days after her husband.
Both Dr. Mynderse and Dr. Clint Doerr have been treating the Bushes and updated the public about the former first couple's conditions at a morning news conference at the hospital.
As far as the former president, Dr. Doerr said, "We have been able to clear out his airways and that has certainly helped his breathing, helped his oxygen and helped that coughing. We'll still be working on that as he transitions out of the intensive care unit today onto the floor."
Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said Sunday that the former president's vital signs were normal. At one point during the former president's stay, doctors inserted a breathing tube and a ventilator was employed to assist his breathing. The tube was removed Friday.
As far as when Mr. Bush could possibly leave the hospital Dr. Doerr said, "If everything continues at the pace of improvement that we're currently enjoying I would imagine… with continued improvement throughout the course of the week a Friday discharge might be al little optimistic. But [he could be discharged] Friday or over the weekend."
The Bushes 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in American history.
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