George H.W. Bush in 'high spirits' but remains hospitalized

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/25/politics/bush-41-hospital/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

George H.W. Bush in 'high spirits' but remains hospitalized

By Kevin Bohn and Ben Brumfield, CNN

December 27, 2014 -- Updated 0041 GMT (0841 HKT)

George H.W. Bush hospitalized

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Former President George H.W. Bush will spend another night in the hospital
• Bush was hospitalized Tuesday for shortness of breath
• He is the father of 43rd president, George W. Bush

(CNN) -- Former President George H.W. Bush, who was taken to a Houston hospital after experiencing shortness of breath, will remain in the hospital for at least one more night, his spokesman said Friday evening.

Bush is in "high spirits and continues to make progress," Jim McGrath said, but will remain in the hospital another night.

On Christmas Day, the former president received visits from his wife, Barbara, son Neil and daughter-in-law Maria Bush, McGrath said in a previous statement.

McGrath said Bush "asked that his sincere wishes for a very Merry Christmas be extended to one and all."

In a statement Wednesday, a day after the hospitalization, McGrath said Bush's prognosis "remains very positive" and he was remaining at the medical facility "as a precaution."

Aides stressed this hospitalization is different from what the former president faced two years ago when he had to spend two months, including Christmas, hospitalized after suffering bronchitis and a persistent cough.

George H.W. Bush

"The Bush family certainly appreciates all your prayers, love and concern. This is not two years ago. It's a hiccup. He should come home in a few days," Jean Becker, Bush's chief of staff, said in a statement in reaction to the outpouring of concern for him.

Bush, 90, a Republican, served as the nation's 41st president and is the father of the 43rd president, George W. Bush.

While suffering from a form of Parkinson's disease that causes him to use a wheelchair or a scooter, the elder Bush has been active recently.

He jumped out of a helicopter to celebrate his 90th birthday in June and participated in the coin toss at a Houston Texans professional football game last month. There he showed up on the "Kiss Cam," which captured him and Barbara smooching. He also appeared last month with his son George at an event to unveil his new book, "41: A Portrait of My Father."

41 things about Bush 41

CNN's Steve Brusk and John King contributed to this report.

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