Former President George W. Bush was recovering Tuesday from heart surgery after doctors found a blockage in his artery, a spokesman for the family said.
In a written statement, spokesman Freddy Ford said the “blockage was discovered in an artery in his heart” during his annual physical exam Monday.
The 67-year-old former president, a fitness buff with no previous known history of heart trouble, is expected to be released Wednesday from a Dallas hospital after having a stent put into the blocked artery.
“The procedure was performed successfully this morning, without complication, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. President Bush is in high spirits, eager to return home tomorrow and resume his normal schedule on Thursday,” Mr. Ford said.
Mr. Ford said the former president also “is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him. He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups.”
According to White House press secretary Jay Carney, President Obama hasn’t spoken to his predecessor after his heart surgery but “obviously wishes him well.”
Mr. Carney told reporters traveling with the president aboard Air Force One that Mr. Obama was briefed “informally” about Mr. Bush’s condition. He said he didn’t know how or when Mr. Obama learned about Mr. Bush’s condition.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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