Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted to a Houston hospital Saturday after complaining of shortness of breath. Initially he seemed to be recovering but Wednesday his condition got worse and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. From CNN:

President Bush was first hospitalized over the weekend suffering from shortness of breath and a cough and was treated with IV antibiotics.

At first, [Bush spokesman Jim] McGrath reported that he was responding well to the drugs. But Wednesday, the 41st President’s condition changed and he was admitted to the intensive care unit, sedated and intubated.

CNN reports spokesman Jim McGrath said, “Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation.”

Also on Wednesday, former First Lady Barbara Bush was admitted to the hospital because of a cough and fatigue.

The former president, who is 92-years-old, was not planning to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump this Friday. He sent a letter to the President-elect explaining his absence. “My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under. Same for Barbara. So I guess we’re stuck in Texas,” he wrote. ABC News published an image of the note on Twitter:

George H.W. Bush in letter to Trump about #Inauguration: "My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under." pic.twitter.com/NDGeq6wFSI

— ABC News (@ABC) January 18, 2017

Former President Clinton and Sen. John McCain wished the couple a speedy recovery:

41 and Barbara—thinking about you both and sending wishes for a speedy recovery. Love, 42.

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 18, 2017

Praying for speedy & full recovery of @GeorgeHWBush & Barbara Bush & sending best wishes to the entire Bush family today

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) January 18, 2017

During his final press conference Wendesday, President Obama noted the hospitalization of the former president and his wife. He called them, “a constant source of friendship and support.” “They are as fine a couple as we know,” Obama added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyExpkULyQ0