Former President Bush leaves hospital after 7-week stay

Former President George H.W. Bush is out of the hospital after a seven-week stay. Former President George H.W. Bush is out of the hospital after a seven-week stay. Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Former President Bush leaves hospital after 7-week stay 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Former President George H.W. Bush was discharged from Methodist Hospital on Monday after being treated for bronchitis, a bacterial infection and a lingering cough during his seven-week stay.

"Mr. Bush has improved to the point that he will not need any special medication when he goes home, but he will continue physical therapy," said Dr. Amy Mynderse, the internal medicine physician in charge of the former president's care.

The 88-year-old former president said in a statement he is "deeply grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses at Methodist who took such good care of me.

"Let me add just how touched we were by the many get-well messages we received from our friends and fellow Americans. Your prayers and good wishes helped more than you know, and as I head home my only concern is that I will not be able to thank each of you for your kind words," Bush said.

Bush will undergo strength conditioning and exercising to help him regain strength during his physical therapy, said spokesman Jim McGrath.

McGrath said a doctor told him that for every day a person is in the hospital, it takes about three days to recover. "He's mostly working on getting his energy back," McGrath said.

Bush has had various health problems in recent years.

In February, it was reported he had been diagnosed with lower body Parkinsonism, a condition that causes instability from the waist down. As a result, he mostly uses a wheelchair.

On Nov. 7, he was admitted to the hospital for a lingering bronchitis-like cough and was discharged Nov. 19. He was then readmitted the day after Thanksgiving when the cough wouldn't subside. He has been in the hospital since.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit a few days before Christmas, where he spent the holiday with his wife, Barbara, and several family members who live in Houston. Bush was released from the ICU Dec. 30.

The oldest living former president, Bush, a former vice president, congressman and CIA director, served as president from 1989-1993.