My Dad, who had quit smoking over 30 years prior, succumbed to COPD rapidly over the course of about 3 years. COPD is nasty when it is aggressive, as it was in his case.
He would get winded walking from the car to the front door of the house. I know that it crushed his spirit, because he was so used to doing everything himself, and in the last couple of years, even the most mundane physical task became daunting...
My Dad did too, in 1970. It was awful for him! He had a digestive system illness too, on top of it, but the COPD (Emphysema) was no help, and probably did him in! He had surgery to remove an infection due to Diverticulitis, and the doctor was sure it was all removed. But since the lung and heart are connected, the lung ailment was a drag on his heart. So in a way, it is probably what will or has happened to Mrs. Bush, and it will be a drag on her’s, poor lady. There’s been hardly any news on the health status of her and her husband at all. I’m surprised that there’s been no news that she even had COPD, although I knew she had Thyroid issues!