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White House: Successful Neck Surgery for First Lady Laura Bush
Saturday, September 08, 2007
WASHINGTON - First lady Laura Bush underwent surgery Saturday to relieve
pain from pinched nerves in her neck. The White House said the procedure was
successful.
The problem kept her from joining President Bush on a trip to Australia this
week for the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum
in Sydney.
Mrs. Bush underwent the 2 1/2-hour procedure at The George Washington
University Hospital. The surgical team was led by Dr. Anthony Caputy,
chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and co-director of the
Neurological Institute, in consultation with Dr. Richard Tubb, who is the
president's doctor.
Mrs. Bush returned to the White House in the afternoon and was said to be
resting comfortably.
While en route from Sydney to Hawaii, Bush telephoned his wife at the
hospital and they spoke for two to three minutes, White House spokeswoman
Dana Perino said.
Mrs. Bush told the president the operation was a success.
"He said she sounded very well," Perino said. "He looks forward to getting
back to help her in the recovery."
Bush is expected to return to Washington at about dawn Sunday.
Sally McDonough, Mrs. Bush's spokeswoman, said on Friday that doctors
planned to use a minimally invasive procedure to remove pressure from the
nerve by enlarging the passageway where the nerve sits near the spinal
column.
The first lady had been in discomfort for some time. She rubbed her right
arm repeatedly during a meeting with reporters at the White House on
Wednesday.
Mrs. Bush injured a nerve in her neck and shoulder earlier this year while
hiking and has been treated with physical therapy since. Her doctors advised
her to not travel overseas, saying such long flights could aggravate the
problem and cause complications.
When the physical therapy did not work, doctors suggested surgery.
White House: Successful Neck Surgery for First Lady Laura Bush
Saturday, September 08, 2007
WASHINGTON - First lady Laura Bush underwent surgery Saturday to relieve
pain from pinched nerves in her neck. The White House said the procedure was
successful.
The problem kept her from joining President Bush on a trip to Australia this
week for the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum
in Sydney.
Mrs. Bush underwent the 2 1/2-hour procedure at The George Washington
University Hospital. The surgical team was led by Dr. Anthony Caputy,
chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and co-director of the
Neurological Institute, in consultation with Dr. Richard Tubb, who is the
president's doctor.
Mrs. Bush returned to the White House in the afternoon and was said to be
resting comfortably.
While en route from Sydney to Hawaii, Bush telephoned his wife at the
hospital and they spoke for two to three minutes, White House spokeswoman
Dana Perino said.
Mrs. Bush told the president the operation was a success.
"He said she sounded very well," Perino said. "He looks forward to getting
back to help her in the recovery."
Bush is expected to return to Washington at about dawn Sunday.
Sally McDonough, Mrs. Bush's spokeswoman, said on Friday that doctors
planned to use a minimally invasive procedure to remove pressure from the
nerve by enlarging the passageway where the nerve sits near the spinal
column.
The first lady had been in discomfort for some time. She rubbed her right
arm repeatedly during a meeting with reporters at the White House on
Wednesday.
Mrs. Bush injured a nerve in her neck and shoulder earlier this year while
hiking and has been treated with physical therapy since. Her doctors advised
her to not travel overseas, saying such long flights could aggravate the
problem and cause complications.
When the physical therapy did not work, doctors suggested surgery.
