Stephen Hawking expected to recover from infection

[April 21, 2009]  LONDON (AP) -- Cambridge University says the family of physicist Stephen Hawking expects him to recover fully from a chest infection that has left him hospitalized.

The university issued a statement Tuesday saying that Hawking "was being kept in observation" at Addenbrooke's hospital.

The statement says Hawking's family was "looking forward to a full recovery."

Hawking, 67, gained renown for his work on black holes and has remained active despite being diagnosed at age 21 with ALS, (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), an incurable degenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Hawking has been almost entirely paralyzed for years and communicates through an electronic voice synthesizer activated by his fingers.

[Associated Press]

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