Barbara Bush Recovering from Abdominal Procedure
EmailABC News’ Kate Barrett and Gina Sunseri Report: Former First Lady Barbara Bush remains in intensive care Wednesday evening after undergoing abdominal surgery for an ulcer overnight.
The former First Lady’s doctor said it’s standard protocol to remain in intensive care after the procedure and said she will remain there for at least another 24 hours. She will be in the hospital for at least week, receiving IV antibiotics.
Former President Bush is still with his wife at Houston’s Methodist Hospital.
Dr. Pat Reardon also said Wednesday evening that the former President and Mrs. Bush came straight to the emergency room. He determined she needed surgery for her ulcer immediately.
The doctor said she is doing very well, her vital signs are stable and she is visiting with family. Barbara Bush was joking with her doctor when she woke up from the surgery and told him the pain was worse than childbirth.
A statement released by the hospital this morning said the former First Lady "underwent routine, laparoscopic surgery Tuesday night to correct a perforated ulcer."
"During the procedure last night, surgeons cleansed her abdominal area, then patched and closed a one-centimeter hole in Mrs. Bush’s stomach, caused by the ulcer," the statement said. "Mrs. Bush is expected to be discharged from the hospital next week."
While pardoning turkeys this morning at the White House, President Bush included his mother’s health in his list of things for which he is grateful this Thanksgiving, saying "I’m grateful for the fact that my mother is doing well." A round of applause greeted his mention of his mother.
First Lady Laura Bush likewise told "Good Morning America" this morning, "She’s doing great. George and I talked to both President Bush and Barbara Bush last night while they were in the hospital. They were doing very well then. This morning, we didn’t call them because we were afraid we got up too early and would wake them up too early. But the White House doctor did talk to Barbara Bush’s doctor and she’s doing very well. We’re really thankful."
Barbara Bush was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday evening, where she was undergoing tests for abdominal pains, a staffer for former President George H.W. Bush told ABC News. Dr. Reardon said Wednesday that the ulcer was caught very early. The surgery lasted several hours and ended at 2:00am ET.
The former first couple have a home in Houston.
UPDATE (Thursday 1:37p.m.ET): Mrs. Bush was just moved out of intensive care and into a regular private room.
UPDATE: (Thursday 5:00p.m.ET): Methodist Hospital says Mrs. Bush is resting comfortably. She is
watching the UT-Texas A&M game with her husband and other family members in her room.
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Hope all is well with Mrs Bush
Posted by: Bonita | November 26, 2008, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
We are thankful for the success of Mrs. Bush’s treatment, and we pray for a speedy recovery.
Posted by: betty | November 26, 2008, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
who? – you’re a classy person.
Posted by: jb7508 | November 26, 2008, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Get well soon…
Posted by: CC | November 26, 2008, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
OUR PRAYERS ARE THAT YOU STAY IN GOOD HEALTH, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR HOUSE HOLD.
MRS T. POPE
Posted by: Tillie | November 26, 2008, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Perhaps the stress of knowing her son has single handedly destroyed the economy of the United states of America has proved to much for poor Barbara
Posted by: Chris Linthwaite | November 26, 2008, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
A fine lady. So sorry she had to undergo abdominal surgery just before Thanksgiving, but here’s hoping she has a swift recovery.
Posted by: Eleonora27 | November 26, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Posted by: andie | November 26, 2008, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
please! that only explains that you have no class.
Posted by: mclaw | November 26, 2008, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
Chris , please tell us your not that stuped.
my book reads,”if the world hates you,remember they hated me first”
Also his own people did not recieve h
him, our president PROCLAIMED TO THE WORLD TO BE A CHRISTEAN, unbelievers have come against him with hatred. but He shall over come.
Posted by: Tillie | November 26, 2008, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
I’d have ulcers too if I had a son like hers.
Posted by: oreilly | November 26, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Sorry – the first thing that comes to mind regarding Barbara Bush is her horrible comment right after Hurricane Katrina about how the victims were better off after the hurricane in their new (displaced) environment.
Wish her the best but she is nobody to admire – her husband and her son were two of the worst presidents in history.
Posted by: ch | November 26, 2008, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
best wishes I had a kidney removed and I bet you I stayed in the hospital alot less time than you will. Don’t you just love they way the health situation is handled. it really stinks for the less fortunate.
Posted by: jaucoin | November 26, 2008, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
She spawned the likes of George and Jebb Bush may God have mercy on her.
Posted by: Hege! | November 26, 2008, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
I am sure she doesn’t have to worry about her medical bills being paid…
Posted by: Hege! | November 26, 2008, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Sorry – the first thing that comes to mind regarding Barbara Bush is her horrible comment right after Hurricane Katrina about how the victims were better off after the hurricane in their new (displaced) environment.
Wish her the best but she is nobody to admire – her husband and her son were two of the worst presidents in history
Posted by: ch | November 26, 2008, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Just remember when you stand before
God on judgement day – the mercy you
showed others here on earth is the
mercy he will show you!! Get well
Mrs. Bush.
Posted by: Kara Bartee | November 26, 2008, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
I hope Mrs. Bush recovers completely. She is one of only two First Ladies I respect and admire. The other is her daughter-in-law.
Posted by: sandalwood | November 26, 2008, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
I wish I could reach right into the screen, and slap the hell out of some of the idiots using this thread to be hateful and make a political statement. Boy, I bet you guys are a lot of fun to be around most of the time. To Barbara: Have a speedy recovery and have a great thanksgiving, god willing.
Posted by: Bigmikey | November 26, 2008, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
You people are uninformed and making crude remarks shows your stupidity. A President does not have the power you all seem to think he does, he only signs the bills after the Congress, Representatives, etc make proposals and then it goes to him for his signature. You are all rude crude and socially unacceptable, hope someone burns your pc.
Posted by: Dorothy Helland | November 26, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
My book tells me that Babs Bush said the people of New Orleans have never had so much food in their lives after Katrina.
My book also explains the decline of the United States of america in the last 8 years and who was in charge.
If your book tells the fable of Moses and Jesus you are welcome to it. There is no God. Einstein explains it very clearly.
Posted by: Chris Linthwaite | November 26, 2008, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Get well Mrs. Bush your a decent and good woman and former first lady. Guy’s give her a break she’s the most sensible one out of the bunch it’s not her fault her husband and son are major failures in life!
Posted by: Cas | November 26, 2008, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
The BEST first lady to date.Gods speed to a recovery….
Posted by: NH voter | November 26, 2008, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
I really hope everything will be ok & she gets well. I have always liked her.
Posted by: Cindy | November 26, 2008, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
Well i see hOpe peOple are sOO cruel these days she didn’t dO nOthing tOO anyOne. Its nOt her fault that her husband and sOn are bad presidents. Yall are grOwn adults saying mean things abOut a wOman in a bad cOnditiOn. GOd will see what yOu are dOing. God Bless you Mrs. Bush and i hOpe the best fOr yOu and yOur family during these hOlidays.
Posted by: Chanel Marshall | November 26, 2008, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
For all of you that had to say somehting nasty about an 83 year old woman, you show to the rest of us what the definition of inhumanity is and the depth of cruelty that some people can stup to.
Posted by: Shir | November 26, 2008, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm
I’m certainly not a fan of either Bush, however, I hope Mrs. Bush has a full and speedy recovery. I could never wish harm on anyone, whether I disagree with them or not.
Posted by: AnaB | November 27, 2008, 12:23 am 12:23 am
barbara bush is NOT a decent and good woman – she’s a nasty, vain, prideful, unfeeling snob who only cares about the Bush family dynasty and its accumulation of power. I certainly hope W is the last we’ll see of the Bushes for a long, long time.
Posted by: nuggetman | November 27, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
People are so mean. God bless you Mrs. Bush. I would be very frightened if I was some of the people who wrote on this blog. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God”. That is not my words but is surely HIS words and I would be careful if I were you that are so nasty.
Posted by: Jane | November 28, 2008, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Posted by: Hege!
She spawned the likes of George and Jebb Bush may God have mercy on her.
HEY HEGE – You should ask God to have mercy on you since you have so much HATRED for the Bush family.
Posted by: Roman | November 29, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
People on this post who wish her ill should ask themselves have they themselves been nice to everyone that comes in their path. Or are they mean when someone offends them or their family.
Posted by: Mac | November 29, 2008, 9:07 am 9:07 am
I am a very proud liberal who voted for President-Elect Obama. I wish Mrs. Bush the best and hope she has a quick recovery. The individuals who are saying dispicable things about Mrs. Bush are just that—individuals—they do not represent what Obama feels, democrats feel or anybody else feel. Hate flows in both directions. Just get better Mrs. Bush.
Posted by: Paul Wall | November 29, 2008, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
gutsy_betsy:
I absolutely agree. Barbara Bush is certainly no role model.
I’m sorry that she — or anyone — is suffering from illness. However, her age and sex should not exempt her from criticism. She certainly did not refrain from enjoying the perks of being First Lady; she doesn’t get a pass now.
Posted by: Alex | November 29, 2008, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
Paul Wall, Sir, you are a gentleman!
Posted by: jonnie36 | November 30, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Dearest Mrs. Bush,
I pray a speedy recovery for you and God’s richest blessings to you and your entire family. I believe God placed the Bush men in office as He desired and when He desired. I could not be more pleased with the example you and Laura have set before us as Godly women. God is still on the throne and will continue to be. May he have mercy on each of us!
Posted by: Cheri Howard | December 1, 2008, 12:10 am 12:10 am
Tillie, Oreilly and AnnaB – good thing the whole world isn’t made up of only people like you. The Bush Family has served their country well. Sometimes doing the right thing makes you unpopular. I have always admired how both father and son have taken stands even when it did not serve them personally or politically well. That takes strength of character. Anyone who blames “W” for the economy is stupid, out of touch or just uninformed. Anyone who blames him with the war needs to just blame everyone who viewed the same intelligence including Powell – think of all the Democrats and foriegn leaders – why don’t you just blame all of them who agreed Sadam had to be taken down – or why don’t you just blame faulty intelligence – you know that’s never happened before. I praise George W Bush for taking decisive action under the current situation of terrorists and nations who harbor terrorist – we have been safe all these years since 9/11 – you should be thankful you had a president who did not pander. For all the critism that has been given to President Bush I know there are many people who feel he has been given a raw deal and treated harshley while serving our country. I’m sure he know that this comes with the territory. Knowing what he knew at the time a decision had to be made. In you are going to error then error on the side of protecting your county. Send a message to the terrorist and anyone who harbors WDA that American threats will not go unanswered. Don’t think for a minute that going to war was an easy decision or a thoughtless one for President Bush. NO president has had to deal with terrorist activity on the homeland before – and he should be praised.
Posted by: Judy | December 1, 2008, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you recover–keep being strong, Barbara! ~Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | December 2, 2008, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
I just want to take the time to wish Mrs. Bush the best in her recent operation – may she have a speedy recovery.
Posted by: rogers | March 4, 2009, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
I hope that you get well soon. I love and admire you and President George H Bush for your service to our great Country.
Posted by: Tim in Austin TX | March 4, 2009, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm