HOUSTON (AP) - After nearly two months of treatment, former President George H.W. Bush is home from the hospital.

Bush -- who, at 88, is the nation's oldest living former president -- was admitted to Houston's Methodist Hospital in late November. His stay included a week in intensive care. He was treated for health issues including a cough related to bronchitis.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Bush says he's "deeply grateful" for the medical care he received, and touched by the get-well messages that were sent to him.

He and his wife, Barbara, live in Houston during the winter and spend their summers in Maine.

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By MICHAEL GRACZYK
HOUSTON (AP) - Former President George H.W. Bush has left a Houston hospital where he spent nearly two months recovering from an illness that began with a bronchitis-related cough.

The following statement was released:

"I am deeply grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses at Methodist who took such good care of me," said President Bush. "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." (Source: ABC News)

Bush spokesman Jim McGrath says the 88-year-old Bush was released Monday from Methodist Hospital.

He was admitted Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, for treatment of complications resulting from bronchitis. He'd spent about a week at the hospital earlier that month for the same ailment.

Doctors said the most recent extended treatment was intended to avoid yet another hospital stay.

Antibiotics and steroids were prescribed to treat the cough. Doctors consistently said the illness wasn't life-threatening but that they wanted to prevent it from worsening to pneumonia.

Bush also spent a week in intensive care in order to knock down a fever.
 

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HOUSTON (AP) - Former President George H.W. Bush could be discharged from a Houston hospital within days after nearly two months of treatment for illness that began as a bronchitis-related cough.

Spokesman Jim McGrath said Monday that the Bush family is hopeful he will be released early this week from Methodist Hospital. McGrath says the final word will come from Bush's doctors.

McGrath couldn't say if the 88-year-old will be allowed to return to his Houston home or will be sent to a rehabilitation facility. McGrath says those details will be provided "at the appropriate time."

The nation's oldest living ex-president and his wife, Barbara, spend winters in Houston and summers at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Bush has been hospitalized since Nov. 23, including a week in intensive care last month.
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