Evangelist Billy Graham Suffers Third Intestinal Bleed, Remains in Fair Condition

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Evangelist Billy Graham experienced a third intestinal bleed Wednesday, but doctors say he remains in fair condition.

Physicians plan more definitive tests to determine the cause and source of the bleeds, said a spokeswoman for Mission Health and Hospitals in Asheville. They think the problem might be caused by diverticuli, or small pouches that can form in the lower intestine. A diverticular bleed often begins suddenly and may stop on its own.

Graham, 88, has been hospitalized since an initial bleed Saturday.

Graham, who suffers from a variety of ailments including Parkinson's disease and age-related macular degeneration, has been largely confined to his western North Carolina home in recent years. His wife, Ruth Bell Graham, died in June following a lengthy illness.