Former Rep. Charlie Wilson released from hospital after heart transplant

Ten days after a successful heart transplant, retired U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson left a hospital here Thursday, dispensing praise for his medical team, bantering with reporters and encouraging the public to increase the number of organ donations.

Wilson, 74, received a new heart from a Kansas City donor on Sept. 24, after spending 40 days on a transplant waiting list. Doctors had told Wilson, who suffered from cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes an enlarged and weakened heart, that he would likely die without a transplant.

"If there's ever been a definition of looking over the abyss, this is it," said Wilson, whose father died from the same disease. "It is scary, but it ain't so scary that I wouldn't do it again."

Looking pale but jovial, Wilson addressed reporters at The Methodist Hospital, where surgeons perform about 40 to 50 heart transplants a year.

"I feel great. I'm a little off balance, a little off speech," said Wilson, who was known as "Good Time Charlie" when he was in Washington. "But this was just a week ago - a week - that's how long you stay in bed with the flu."

Wilson should be able to resume normal activities within six to eight weeks, said Dr. Guillermo Torre, medical director of the heart transplant program at Methodist.

Wilson represented Texas' 2nd District in the House from 1973 to 1996. He is the subject of an upcoming movie starring Tom Hanks, which chronicles Wilson's efforts to arm Afghani mujahedeen, then called "freedom fighters," during their war against the Soviet Union.

"Charlie Wilson's War," directed by Oscar-winner Mike Nichols, is scheduled for release at Christmas.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Wilson helped secure money for weapons, including Stinger missiles.

After Hanks learned of the transplant surgery, he sent a get-well present: the binoculars the actor used in his role in "Saving Private Ryan" - Wilson's favorite movie.

"I've led a pretty rich and full life, and I look forward to continuing it," said Wilson, before giving a two-word message to his donor's family: "Thank you."