Barbara Bush out of hospital after surgery

HOUSTON, March 13 (UPI) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush called Friday the 13th her lucky day as she left the Houston hospital where surgeons replaced an aortic valve.

She plans to recuperate at home with three weeks of limited activity, he Houston Chronicle reported. Bush, 83, spent nine days in Methodist Hospital.

"This Friday the 13th turned out to be a lucky one for me because I was able to go home with George, feeling healthy and strong," Bush said. "Nobody ever had better medical treatment than I did this past week and a half, and I am grateful not only to the doctors, nurses and staff at Methodist for their caring and professionalism; I also want to thank everyone else for their good wishes and especially their prayers."

Dr. Gerald Lawrie described Mrs. Bush as a "remarkable patient" and said she will soon be able to return to her normal activities. He said the open-heart surgery was "straightforward."