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American Morning

Bob Hope Expected to Leave Hospital Within Days

Aired August 30, 2001 - 11:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Doctors expect entertainer Bob Hope to go home from the hospital in a few days.

Let's get an update now on his condition from CNN's Sherri Sylvester. She is standing by for us at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California -- Sherri, take it away.

SHERRI SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, Bob Hope is responding well to antibiotics. And his condition has improved quite a bit since he checked in here Sunday.

Now, he was treated last summer for an unrelated illness. And we have not seen him publicly since that time. But his doctors say that they characterize his health generally as stable. And Bob Hope was, of course, working well into his 90s, as well as playing golf. He is an avid golfer. He boasts that he's played 2,000 courses.

And, of course, that has kept him in shape through the years. But now at the age of 98, his doctors say that his age does play a part in his hospitalization. They say that his illness, though, did escalate very quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. LEE KAGAN, HOPE'S PHYSICIAN: He had a terrific morning on Sunday, had eaten well. And there was no sign of any of problems until approximately 9:00 in the evening. And it did begin suddenly with difficulties with his breathing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SYLVESTER: Bob Hope enjoys a seven-decade career in show business. He has never won an Oscar, but he's been given five honorary awards. He's also hosted the Academy Awards several times. He's been in almost 60 feature films, 300 television specials. And we're right here just around the corner from Bob Hope Drive at NBC, his old home since 1938.

They are going to give us a little bit of an update on his condition later on today. And we'll bring that to you live as soon as we get it.

I'm Sherri Sylvester reporting from Providence Saint Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California. HARRIS: Hey, Sherri, before we let you go, now that the public knows which hospital Bob Hope is at, have you seen any crowds there assembling?

SYLVESTER: Well, we've had a few fans drive by in their cars and scream out the windows, "We love you, Hope!"

(LAUGHTER)

SYLVESTER: But we're not sure that Bob can actually hear them way up in his room. But we heard them. I think they are for the media, primarily.

And, of course, some flowers have been coming by. But we're not sure if they are for Bob Hope or for other patients. It's a pretty big hospital. It takes up a lot of room. So we'll see if the fans turn out a little bit later today. I'm sure he's getting lots of letters. And, of course, his wife, Dolores, is by his side, as well as his daughter, Linda. And they've been here since Sunday.

HARRIS: Well, don't be too sure they weren't yelling at you, Sherri.

(LAUGHTER)

SYLVESTER: Right.

HARRIS: We'll check back with you later on. Take care.

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