国际英语新闻:Former U.S. president Bush to be home for Christmas after hospitalization

HOUSTON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. president George H. W. Bush was expected to be home by Christmas after nearly three weeks in a Houston hospital with a bronchitis-related cough, doctors said Thursday. "Given his current pace of progress, doctors expect that President Bush will be able to celebrate Christmas at home with his family - though no release date has been set at this time," read a statement from Methodist Hospital in Houston, where Bush has been in for treatment.

The 88-year-old Bush, reported to be the oldest living former U. S. president, was initially hospitalized on November 23 with bronchitis and remained there with what his spokesman described as a "lingering cough." His office originally expected a release in late November or early December.

Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik said Thursday that Bush has steadily improved and remains stable. The former president's treatment now centers on physical therapy to increase his strength, Kovacik said.

Bush served as the 41st president of the United States from 1989 to 1993.