MOTHER Teresa was released from hospital yesterday after a battle with heart problems, malaria and pneumonia, and immediately went home to rest.
Doctors said the 86 year old Nobel peace laureate, known as the Saint of the Gutters for her work with the destitute, was released from Calcutta's Woodland's Nursing Home at her own request.
The nun was taken by wheelchair, ambulance and stretcher to her home nearby from the hospital, which she entered on August 20th with malaria.
Doctors said Mother Teresa, who has had a heart pacemaker since 1989, had two heart attacks while in intensive care and also had a bout of mild pneumonia.
"We had a plan to release her on Saturday but she was restless and wanted to go home today. We could not force her to stay one more day," Dr S.K. Sen, the nursing home's medical director, told reporters. Dr Sen said: "She has tremendous power. She becomes stronger after every prayer ... She is a little stronger but she needs lots of rest," he said.
One sister at the Mother House, Mother Teresa's home and the headquarters of her Calcutta based Missionaries of Charity religious order, told reporters: "Mother is very happy to return home. God has listened to our prayers.