Barbara Bush Hospitalized Due to Pneumonia

Former first lady, Barbara Bush, has been admitted to the hospital due to pneumonia, according to the NY Times.

She is currently recuperating as of late, at the same hospital where her late husband, former President George Bush, was also confined for weeks in 2012 due to bronchitis-related illness. Mrs. Bush, now 88, was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on Monday and was released on Tuesday evening. "She is in great spirits, has already received visits from her husband and family, and is receiving fantastic care," said Jim McGrath, a spokesman of the Bush family.

Last Tuesday evening, the former president and first lady enjoyed New Year's Eve together at the hospital while watching college football on television and naturally cheering for the Texas A&M Aggies. In 2012, Mr. Bush, 89, spent most of his November at Methodist, undergoing treatment for bronchitis and cough. In 2008, Mrs. Bush underwent surgery at the same hospital due to a perforated ulcer. Months later, in 2009, she underwent heart surgery at the age of 83.

As of late, Mr. Bush is suffering from a form of Parkinson's disease and often makes use of a wheelchair or scooter to get himself around. Despite their illnesses, the couple has been very public especially in their hometown. Mrs. Bush, whose husband was president from 1989 to 1993 used her prominence as first lady to champion numerous civic and charitable causes and was also advocate for global literacy, according to ABC News. In 1989, she revealed that she had Grave's disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. She reportedly lost 18 pounds in just three months as part of the disease's effect.