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Barbara Bush hospitalized for bronchitis, President Bush remains in ICU

The former first lady said through a spokesperson she "feels 1,000 percent better," while doctors are hopeful the 41st president will be moved out of the ICU in a few days.

By Stephen Feller
Former United States President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, pictured at the White House on January 7, 2009, have both been hospitalized in Houston for nearly a week. The 41st president has been receiving treatment for the last week for an acute respiratory issue linked to pneumonia, while the former first lady was admitted to the hospital Tuesday for treatment for bronchitis. File photo by Ron Sachs/Pool/UPI
Former United States President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, pictured at the White House on January 7, 2009, have both been hospitalized in Houston for nearly a week. The 41st president has been receiving treatment for the last week for an acute respiratory issue linked to pneumonia, while the former first lady was admitted to the hospital Tuesday for treatment for bronchitis. File photo by Ron Sachs/Pool/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush was hospitalized in Houston earlier this week for bronchitis, joining her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, who has been in the hospital receiving treatment for an respiratory problem linked to pneumonia since Saturday.

Barbara Bush has been receiving treatment at Houston Methodist Hospital for bronchitis since Tuesday, but doctors say she has responded well to treatment and is feeling much better.

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President Bush has been in the intensive care unit since Wednesday, when he was put on a ventilator to help him breathe, but is reportedly stable and doctors are discussing removing the tube to allow him to breath on his own because his condition has improved.

"President Bush had a good night's rest and remains in stable condition in the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital," Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement.

McGrath also said Barbara Bush, 91, was brought to the hospital on Tuesday with symptoms diagnosed as bronchitis. She was admitted and has been treated with "antibiotics and some good rest," and McGrath said she "feels '1,000 percent better this morning.'"

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President Bush, 92, has been at the hospital since Saturday, where he went with "an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia." Early Wednesday morning, Bush underwent a procedure to protect and clear his airway and is currently breathing with the help of a ventilator.

Doctors thought President Bush would be able to return home by the end of the week, however they have kept him hospitalized and are currently debating whether or not to remove the breathing tube.

"We are hopeful he will be discharged from the ICU in a few days," McGrath said, though there is no timetable for the 41st president's release from the hospital.

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