Spokeswoman: Sen. Kennedy hospitalized with seizure
Associated Press
Saturday, May 17, 2008
BOSTON — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was airlifted to a hospital Saturday after suffering a seizure at his home, and did not appear to have had a stroke as initially suspected, his spokeswoman said.
The 76-year-old Democrat, the lone surviving son in a famed political family, was undergoing tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure, spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said.
"Senator Kennedy is resting comfortably, and it is unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours," she said. Kennedy's wife, Victoria, was with him at the hospital, Cutter said.
Kennedy went to Cape Cod Hospital on Saturday morning "after feeling ill at his home," Cutter said. After discussion with his doctors in Boston, Kennedy was taken to Massachusetts General.
An official who declined to be identified by name, citing the sensitivity of the events, had earlier said that Kennedy had stroke-like symptoms. The hospital declined to comment on his condition.
In October, Kennedy had surgery to repair a nearly complete blockage in a major neck artery. The discovery was made during a routine examination of a decades-old back injury.
The hourlong procedure on his left carotid artery — a main supplier of blood to the face and brain — was performed at Massachusetts General. This type of operation is performed on more than 180,000 people a year to prevent a stroke.
The doctor who operated on Kennedy said at the time that surgery is reserved for those with more than 70 percent blockage, and Kennedy had "a very high-grade blockage."
On Saturday, Hyannis Fire Lt. Bill Rex said a 911 call came in from the Kennedy family compound at 8:19 a.m. A man was transported to Cape Cod Hospital and transferred by air at 10:10 a.m. from Barnstable Municipal Airport to Boston.
David Reilly, a spokesman for Cape Cod Hospital, said that Kennedy was brought to the hospital around 9 a.m. and stayed for about an hour before being flown by helicopter to the Boston hospital.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts did not talk to reporters when he arrived at the hospital shortly after 1 p.m.
Kerry later issued a statement, saying that Kennedy "been a fighter who has overcome adversity again and again with courage, grit, and determination. Teresa and I are praying" for Kennedy's family.
Kennedy, 76, has been in the Senate since election in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy is the lone surviving son in a famed family. His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, beginning a tour of hospitals in Eugene, Ore., told reporters that he had been in touch with the senator's family.
"Ted Kennedy is a giant in American political history. He's done more for health care than just about anybody in history. We are going to be rooting for him. I insist on being optimistic about how it's going to turn out," he said.
Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, New York. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, also issued a statement.
"My thoughts and prayers are with Ted Kennedy and his family today," she said. "We all wish him well and a quick recovery."
Kennedy gave Obama's presidential campaign a big boost this year with his endorsement and has campaigned actively for the Illinois senator.
Kennedy was preparing to host the annual Best Buddies Challenge event on Saturday afternoon, a fundraiser for the Best Buddies organization founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver that helps people with intellectual disabilities.
Hundreds are expected to participate in the event, which started with a 100-mile bicycle ride from the Kennedy Library in Boston to Hyannisport, and closes out with a concert at the Kennedy compound.
A man walking by Massachusetts General was startled by the news when he asked about the reason for the large media presence.
"Ted? Is he all right? Jeez, I'm taken aback. I just saw him on television yesterday," said Jerry Leonard, 76, a retired bartender.
"He's a Kennedy. His name is synonymous with this area. I'm a Bostonian, too, and he's done a lot for us around here and for the senior citizens in particular. I don't know him but I feel a connection."
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May 17, 2008
11:54 a.m.
Buckwheat writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 17, 2008
12:12 p.m.
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tchoupitoulas writes:
Always classy to see people kick a person when they're in crisis. Nice!
No matter what the man has done or continue to do, that shouldn't give people rise to mock him. Hope he recovers.
May 17, 2008
12:30 p.m.
samsmargolis writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 17, 2008
1:47 p.m.
Buckwheat writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 17, 2008
2:04 p.m.
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jay045 writes:
I'm sorry, I'm on the liberal side and I was not dancing on Bill Buckley's grave when he died. Some of you have absolutely no class.
May 17, 2008
2:12 p.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
Gee, your right I feel so ashamed... I guess I should be thanking him for all the good he's done for this country. OK Ted, thanks for the Taxes, thanks for the Welfare, thanks for the Laxadaisical(sp)Immigration Policies... So there I feel much better... Thanks, thanks, thanks..
May 17, 2008
2:50 p.m.
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dillard writes:
Some people will celebrate the day this man dies just as many did the day Martlin Luther King was killed. Why?
May 17, 2008
3:03 p.m.
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Alive writes:
I consider his politics to be disastrous for our nation, but I do not wish him any suffering. I do not believe he is evil, or anything like that, so I hope he will be OK. But I do wish he would leave politics.
May 17, 2008
3:12 p.m.
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Spencer writes:
Wow not a lot of class from the hairy ass hillbilly. I'm sure anyone who actually knows him will be cheering next time he is sick
May 17, 2008
4:41 p.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
Martin Luther King?? You comparing him to King????
Are you out of your mind??? He couldn't carry King's luggage... Wow, now that's pretty balsy..
May 17, 2008
4:42 p.m.
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Hank writes:
Well Spencer, did you expect anything else from FuzzButt?
May 17, 2008
4:44 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
I see the usual idiots missed a beautiful sunny Colorado day. This proves that they're nothing but a bunch of pasty-faced shut-ins with nothing better to do than toot their horns over the health problems of an aging American statesman.
Maybe if you dorks got off the computer for an afternoon and went outside for some exercise, you'd have a brighter outlook and something worthwhile to say.
OK, I'm done with my glass of iced tea, time to go plant some flowers. Have a pleasant evening and best wishes to the Kennedy family on Ted's speedy recovery.
May 17, 2008
5:22 p.m.
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MrCrush writes:
He's no statesman. He's a man who has made numerous huge mistakes in his life. If he wasn't a Kennedy, he would have been in prison long ago on many convictions. I don't wish him ill but he's a pitiful human being who has cost the citizens of this country billions of dollars in useless entitlements for millions of lazy Americans. He'll be remembered but not missed when he passes on. It's him and people like him that keeps this country in cyclical economic ruin. Shame on Ted Kennedy.
May 17, 2008
5:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Charles_B writes:
MrCrush:
I could say the same thing about your father but that would be a classless exaggeration don't you think?
Are you familiar with psychological projection?
May 17, 2008
5:53 p.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
Yep, nice day...Spending 2hrs in and 2hrs out 6-6 all weekend. Maybe tomorrow i can plant some flowers for Ted..(we can only hope).. But then again, i don't even turn this thing on when its' my day off. Got better things to do.. See ya Wends.....I'am outta here........
May 17, 2008
7:25 p.m.
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GetReal writes:
I have never liked Ted's politics but that is besides the point.
Even with my belief in Karma, the guy has suffered through a serious medical emergency I would not wish on anyone.
Its out of line to kick a guy when he's down, and I hope there will be no more unsavory comments.
Traditionally that crap has always been more predominant on the Left,
Remember the voluminous bile regurgitated from Leftys upon Reagan's death and Tony Snow's cancer diagnosis-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/...
http://newsbusters.org/node/11614
Keep in mind the most vile comments have already been deleted, and I included nothing from the sickos at thedailykos.
You guys give us all a black eye when you lower yourselves like that.
At least wait until the "swimmer" gets out of the hospital and is back to his old tricks.
May 17, 2008
7:32 p.m.
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MrCrush writes:
Charles_B
Yes I am, but I think Freud was probably a hopeless liberal as I assume you are sir.
May 17, 2008
8:08 p.m.
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Scott writes:
Well, I'm not crying any tears over Kennedy. But then I DID have an aunt murdered by a drunk driver. Fortunately that drunk driver's last name was not "Kennedy". It did three years in the slammer. That's about three years more than Kennedy did.
Scott
May 17, 2008
9:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
say_what writes:
It is interesting seeing all of the "removed by site staff" messages. I just have one comment. Yes it matters tchoupitoulas what a "man has done". Sen. Kennedy, you will soon be joining that woman you killed so many years ago in the bottom of the river. Karma has a way of collecting debts. May you NEVER rest in peace.
May 17, 2008
9:50 p.m.
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timeandagain writes:
teddy kennedy a statesman? wow, that is not exactly the adjective that comes to mind. you know what is so funny? the entire kennedy clan is the repeated and textbook definition of wealthy entitlement (yes, even JFK - the tragic hero - but second only to Bush Jr. in terms of bad presidents). this family is chock full of drunks, cheaters, rapists, etc, and the word "statesman" is thrown around for this bonehead? c'mon...
May 17, 2008
10:44 p.m.
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Openminded1 writes:
I think its time the Rocky Mountain remove the comment section from their articles. It's no longer being use for its intended purpose. I hope young minors never get hold of these comments, they might learn something about people by reading some of these comments. Its pretty sad.
May 17, 2008
11:18 p.m.
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clyde writes:
KARMA!
May 17, 2008
11:20 p.m.
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clyde writes:
So Openminded1 is now advocating censorship? How open minded. How Liberal. How bull$hit!
May 17, 2008
11:47 p.m.
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Openminded1 writes:
Hey Clyde Not censorship, but maybe a rating system. Notice your language.
May 18, 2008
7:02 a.m.
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Steve writes:
Good luck to Ted and family.
Sorry to read the comments posted here by the losers. I need to move out of this place to where people have a little more class.
May 18, 2008
8:09 a.m.
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timeandagain writes:
Bye bye Steve! Try Boston! They are VERY classy there!!! Hence the Kennedy family's deep connections.
May 18, 2008
8:41 a.m.
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glock27 writes:
"Kerry later issued a statement, saying that Kennedy "been a fighter who has overcome adversity again and again..."
Such as: avoiding a negligent homicide rap for drowning Mary Jo.
May 18, 2008
1:39 p.m.
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sawzallartist writes:
So if Kennedy killed that girl and its karma when does Laura Bush get her seizure?