Barbara Bush was released from the hospital today, nine days after undergoing open-heart surgery, the Houston Chronicle reports. “This Friday the 13th turned out to be a lucky one,” said the former first lady. “I was able to go home with George, feeling healthy and strong.”
Mrs. Bush has now been hospitalized twice in the past four months, both times with potentially life-threatening conditions. This time, Bush had her aortic valve replaced with that of a pig, in a procedure the doctor described as “straightforward.” “Mrs. Bush was a remarkable patient,” he said. “Her recovery was very quick for this type of procedure.” (More George HW Bush stories.)