Nancy Reagan, former first lady of the U.S. and widow of President Ronald Reagan, was hospitalized after she had fractured her pelvis and lower spine. Her spokeswoman said that she had suffered the fractures in a fall at her home last week. The 87-year-old former first lady was taken to the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center and will remain there for treatment for a few days.

Joanne Drake, Nancy Reagan’s spokeswoman, also added that the widow admitted herself to the hospital which was recently renamed the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The tests made by the doctors showed that she had suffered a fractured pelvis and sacrum.

The sacrum is the big triangular bone at the base of the spine, between the two hip bones.

Drake said that the 87-year-old Nancy Reagan was very optimistic and that "her anticipated recovery is six to eight weeks, including physical therapy and a modified schedule." Still, she wouldn’t say more about the circumstances in which the widow fell. In February she took a spill and was admitted to the hospital for only two days as she hadn’t suffered serious injuries.

Her only public appearance in the last few years was in March when she invited Senator John McCain to her home in the Bel Air community of Los Angeles to support his candidacy for president.

Nancy Reagan became first lady of the U.S. in 1981 when the former governor of California, Ronald Reagan, was elected president. She was also known during her first years as a first lady for renovating the White House and her unconditioned support that she gave to her husband in the eight years he had been a president.

Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1990 and died in 2004.