NEW YORK — Former President Bill Clinton has offered a reassuring update on his recovery after spending several days in the hospital, thanking medical staff and supporters while signaling that he intends to remain active for years to come.
In a video message shared Wednesday, Clinton appeared visibly weakened but optimistic as he spoke publicly about his recent hospitalization. The former president expressed gratitude for the widespread support he received while undergoing treatment and praised the doctors and nurses who cared for him.
Clinton specifically thanked the medical team at UC Irvine Medical Center, where he spent approximately a week receiving treatment.
“I was so touched by the outpouring of support I received during my stay in the hospital,” Clinton said, expressing appreciation to those who reached out to him and to the medical professionals involved in his care.
The former president also addressed his determination to continue contributing after his recovery. He said he plans to do his best to remain active and continue working to make a positive difference.
“I’m going to do my best to be around, to keep doing the most good I can, for a lot longer,” Clinton said.
According to an aide who spoke with The Associated Press, Clinton was hospitalized after a urological infection spread into his bloodstream. The aide said the former president was recovering and had not developed septic shock.
Doctors treating Clinton also provided encouraging information about his condition. Alpesh Amin, chair of the Department of Medicine and executive director of hospital medicine at UC Irvine Medical Center, said Clinton’s fever and white blood cell count had returned to normal levels.
Amin said Clinton would be able to return home to New York to complete his prescribed course of antibiotics.
Clinton subsequently indicated that he was pleased to be home and feeling increasingly positive about his recovery.
“I’m doing great,” he said, describing himself as being on the road to recovery.
The former president’s hospitalization prompted an outpouring of public concern, particularly because of his age and long history in national politics. Clinton, who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001, has remained active in public life since leaving office through political work, philanthropy and the activities of the Clinton Foundation.
His latest message was not simply an update on his own health. Clinton used the opportunity to encourage others to pay closer attention to their physical well-being and seek appropriate medical care when something does not feel right.
He urged people to listen to their bodies and take care of themselves, emphasizing that everyone has responsibilities and a role to play in their communities and in the future.
The message comes as Clinton begins the next stage of his recovery outside the hospital. While he will need to complete his medical treatment, the latest reports indicate that his condition has improved significantly.
For supporters and members of the public who had been following his hospitalization, the video offered a welcome sign of progress.
Clinton’s recovery is expected to continue at home, surrounded by family and away from the intensity of public life.
For now, the former president’s message is one of gratitude, optimism and determination: after a serious health scare, he says he is focused on recovering—and on continuing the work he believes remains ahead.