Billy Graham returns home from hospital

MONTREAT, N.C. (BP)--Evangelist Billy Graham returned home Saturday after spending Friday night in an Asheville, N.C., hospital following a fall at his house.

Graham, who turns 90 Nov. 7, was hospitalized after tripping over one of his three dogs at his house, but x-rays showed no broken bones, a news release stated. Doctors gave Graham the choice Friday night of returning home, but he chose to stay overnight instead of going home at such a late hour.

“Of course we worry any time a patient takes a fall, especially an older patient,” Graham’s doctor, Lucian Rice, was quoted as saying. “But while Mr. Graham is somewhat bruised, with some extremely sore muscles, he seems to have suffered no serious injuries, and in fact he was able to work on his physical therapy regimen first thing the next morning. I am encouraging him to remain as active as possible, but to be mindful of his dog, who likes to keep faithfully at his feet. I expect Mr. Graham to recover fully.”

Graham most recently was hospitalized in February for elective replacement of a brain shunt, the statement said.

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Compiled by Michael Foust, assistant editor of Baptist Press.