Reagan on the Mend From Hip Surgery

Jan. 16 -- Former President Ronald Reagan is recovering well and was able to sit up in a chair a day after undergoing surgery on his hip Saturday, one of his doctors said.

"He remarkably was up in a chair yesterday, the first day post-op," Dr. Kevin Ehrhart, the lead surgeon during the 1.5-hour operation Saturday at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., told Good Morning America on Monday. "That's a goal you obtain about half the time. He did it on the first try."

"President Reagan remains in stable condition and has impresseddoctors with his progress in the last 24 hours," Reaganspokeswoman Joanne Drake said Monday in her daily report from St. John'sHealth Center. "His appetite has increased and he haseven enjoyed some ice cream, his favorite dessert."

The former president broke his right hip in a fall at his Bel-Air, Calif. home Friday afternoon.

Ehrhart said after the operation that Reagan's tissue and bone were remarkably like that of a "much younger man, which obviously helps substantially with his recovery."

However, the surgeon said, Reagan still faces a "long, uphill struggle."

The 89-year-old, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, will likely remain at the facility for seven to 10 days, as doctors monitor his recovery.

In a statement issued Sunday, President Clinton sent well-wishesto the former president and his family.

"Hillary and I are relieved that President Reagan's treatmentfor his injury appears to have been successful," Clinton said.

President-elect Bush called Reagan's wife, Nancy, before the surgery.

Daughter in Same Hospital

Nancy Reagan has been at her husband's side since thefall. Daughter, Patti Davis, and son, Michael Reagan, visitedSaturday. Youngest son, Ron Reagan, telephoned and plans to visithis father in the hospital in the coming days, family spokeswoman Joanne Drake said.

Maureen Reagan, the 60-year-old daughter of Reagan and actressJane Wyman, has been undergoing cancer treatment at the samehospital since Dec. 11. Her husband Dennis Revell said she was"hanging in there."