Former First Lady Barbara Bush spent her last years in and out of hospitals while battling congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While it was a trying time for the Bush family, her son Jeb recalled one of the sweetest moments between his parents, Barbara and former President George H.W. Bush, shortly before Barbara passed away nearly two years ago.
"The last time my mom went into the hospital, I think dad got sick on purpose so he could be with her. That's my theory, at least, because literally a day later he showed up with an illness," Jeb wrote in his new book, "In Pearls of Wisdom: Little Pieces of Advice (That Go a Long Way)," which was released on Tuesday, according to People.
"He came into her room while she was sleeping and held her hand. His hair was standing straight up, and he was wearing a hospital gown. In other words, he looked like hell!
"Mom opened her eyes and said, 'My God, George, you are devastatingly handsome.' Every nurse, doctor, staffer had to run to the hallway because they all started crying," Jeb continued.
George passed away nearly eight months after Barbara. To continue their legacy, friends and family members have come together with their recollections and short stories in the new book. Barbara's granddaughter Lauren wrote of how loyal her "Ganny" was to the ex-president.
"My Ganny was loyal to my grandfather until the end. As they both got older, she would often say that she wanted to live one day longer than our Gampy," Lauren recalled. "She wanted to be there for him, and when he was gone, she would be ready to go."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.