In breaking news, 90-year-old former President George H.W. Bush was rushed to the hospital late Tuesday night after experiencing a serious “shortness of breath.”
Bush was transported by ambulance to Houston Methodist Hospital Tuesday evening on a precautionary basis. He currently remains at the hospital under observation.
Health problems for the last couple of years
The oldest former president, and one of the few remaining true moderate Republicans, Bush has had a series of health problems resulting in him typically using a wheelchair or motorized scooter to get around.
Back in 2012, Bush was admitted to the hospital with a bad case of bronchitis. He was released a few days later, but returned the day after Thanksgiving with a painful cough. Bush ended up in intensive care with a difficult fever. Bush ended up spending almost two months at the hospital until his release in January of 2013.
Bush went skydiving to celebrate his 90th birthday
Despite his earlier health problems, Bush who was once the youngest pilot in the Navy, decided to celebrate his 90th birthday in June by making a parachute jump at a family property in Kennebunkport, Maine.
He made the jump from a helicopter at just over 6,000 feet. Wisely, he was harnessed up with an experienced member of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team.
Bush landed successfully without incident and was mobbed by friends and family offering congratulations afterwards.
Bush noted this jump was a much different experience from his first parachute jump in September 1944 when torpedo bomber was shot down over the island of Chihi-jima in the Pacific. Somewhat miraculously, he was later rescued by a submarine that was picking up other downed naval aviators.
Of note, former president Bush also celebrated his 75th, 80th, and 85th birthdays by skydiving. However, he only began this life-affirming if-slightly-risky birthday tradition after leaving the White House.
