By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

After three episodes of intestinal bleeding, evangelist Billy Graham underwent a colonoscopy Wednesday (Aug. 22) to address his ailment.
His doctor found an area of active bleeding and treated it with cauterization, officials at Mission Health & Hospitals in Asheville, N.C., said in a statement.
“Mr. Graham was alert during the procedure, watching the monitor, talking with the physician and hospital staff, and asking them about their families,” the statement reads.

The 88-year-old evangelist resumed a liquid diet and was continuing to rest.
Graham spokeswoman Melany Ethridge said the evangelist was doing “really well” the morning after the procedure and medical personnel “could really see a difference” in his condition.
Graham was admitted Saturday to the hospital near his home in Montreat. Graham, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and other ailments, has been mostly homebound in recent years. His wife of more than 63 years, Ruth Graham, died in June.

Copyright 2007 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.