Graham In Hospital With Pneumonia

Associated Press

The Rev. Billy Graham has pneumonia but is responding well to treatment, his doctor said Thursday.

The 79-year-old evangelist was hospitalized Wednesday night for treatment of the respiratory infection, which he developed during a Caribbean vacation.

“He’s responding nicely. I don’t think there will be any complications,” said Dr. Charles Burger, pulmonary medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville, who is treating Graham.

Graham is listed in fair condition at St. Luke’s Hospital, which is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic- Jacksonville, a satellite clinic of the famous Rochester, Minn., clinic.

Physicians ran a series of tests on Graham on Thursday which indicate the infection in his right lung is clearing, his fever has subsided and his white blood count is back to normal.

“I’m pleased how he is doing medically,” Burger said. The physician refused to speculate on how many days Graham will be in the hospital, saying it would be a day-today decision based on his progress.

“If he continues to improve, it will be only a few days,” Burger said.

He said Graham’s Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder, is not related to his illness and will have no effect on the treatment of his pneumonia. Graham is being treated with antibiotics.

Thank you for visiting Spokesman.com. To continue reading this story and enjoying our local journalism please subscribe or log in.

You have reached your article limit for this month.

Subscribe now and enjoy unlimited digital access to Spokesman.com

Unlimited Digital Access

Stay connected to Spokane for as little as 99¢!

Subscribe for access

Already a Spokesman-Review subscriber? Activate or Log in

You have reached your article limit for this month.

Subscribe now and enjoy unlimited digital access to Spokesman.com

Unlimited Digital Access

Stay connected to Spokane for as little as 99¢!

Subscribe for access

Already a Spokesman-Review subscriber? Activate or Log in

Oops, it appears there has been a technical problem. To access this content as intended, please try reloading the page or returning at a later time. Already a Spokesman-Review subscriber? Activate or Log in