We can be com symps for the next 50 years and get a pension to boot!.
Posted on 05/17/2008 2:32:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BOSTON - A spokeswoman for Sen. Edward Kennedy says he is conscious and talking to family after he suffered a seizure in his Cape Cod home and was flown to a Boston hospital.
The 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat fell ill at his home Saturday morning and was rushed to a local hospital. He later was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure.
Spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said he is "conscious, talking, joking with family."
His wife, children and niece Caroline Kennedy are among those with him at the hospital.
The second longest serving member of the Senate had surgery in October to repair a nearly complete blockage in a major neck artery. The surgery is done to prevent stroke.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BOSTON (AP) — 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, two of his children and Caroline Kennedy were among those with him at the hospital.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, speaking at the Nevada Democratic Convention in Reno, said he spoke to Kennedy's wife Saturday afternoon and was told "his condition is not life-threatening, but serious."
"But the one thing I can say, if there ever was a fighter, anyone who stood for what we as Americans, we as Democrats, stand for, it's Ted Kennedy," Reid 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."
Distinguishing between a seizure and TIA, often called a mini-stroke, can sometimes be difficult.
Seizures are little electrical storms in the brain. They tend to be brief; an occasional one can happen to anyone even without a prior history of seizures, especially if there has been some prior brain trauma.
A stroke is either ischemic — a clog in a blood vessel — or hemorrhagic, bleeding in the brain. Hemorrhagic ones are very rare. Kennedy had the carotid artery surgery to try to prevent the ischemic type. A stroke kills brain tissue; how much depends on how big it is and how long it lasts. Some people show no lasting effects; others can be partly paralyzed on one side or somewhere in-between.
Kennedy, the second-longest serving member of the Senate, was elected in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy. He is the lone surviving son in the famed family. His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.
Kennedy is active for his age, maintaining an aggressive schedule on Capitol Hill and across Massachusetts.
He has been vocal in both his opposition to the Iraq war and support for Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama. He made several campaign appearances for the Illinois senator in February, and most recently another in April.
Always concerned about maintaining his health, Kennedy regularly consults with a battery of Massachusetts General doctors. Still, he maintains homes in both Boston and Washington and attends not only official events, but numerous others recognizing his family's political history.
Just last week, he and his niece Caroline Kennedy awarded the annual "Profiles in Courage" award commemorating President Kennedy. And on Friday, he attended a ribbon cutting at the Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
He 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. The event attracted celebrities, including New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Olympian Carl Lewis.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, Kennedy's niece, said they appreciated all the messages of care they had received for the senator.
"It's always a comfort to the family to know that Sen. Kennedy is in the prayers of millions," their statement said.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who went to the hospital, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama said were offering their prayers for his quick recovery.
Obama, beginning a tour of hospitals in Eugene, Ore., told reporters that he had been in touch with the senator's family. He said, "We are going to be rooting for him. I insist on being optimistic about how it's going to turn out."
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.
"He's a Kennedy. His name is synonymous with this area," the retired bartender said. "I'm a Bostonian, too, and he's done a lot for us around here and for the senior citizens in particular."
Well. that's. good. news. I, uh...am glad. that. the. Senator. is. responsive.
Yeah
Er ah,I’ve got to get out of this,er hospital.Chris Dodd and Err ahh I were going to go out for sandwiches tonight.
Hey Norm I going say something
I going hold my tongue
BTW I am not suprise if Ted recovers he has little a bit of Mama Rose in him living for long time
I used to think 24/7 cable was a good thing but these days I'm really fairly tired of it all. To boot, they really ought to save a lot of money and consolidate these three (CNN, MSNBC and Fox) into a single channel as they are all predictable in their uniform approach to the news and coverage.
Then I'll be careful not to put on tinfoil and guess that this was a warning to BHO from she who commands flying monkees.
Americans and Democrats are two distinctly different groups. Americans are freedom loving human beings. Democrats, well, you know how I feel by now.
Kennedy had surgery to repair a nearly complete blockage in a major neck artery.
Paradoxically, I've heard that the surgery often causes strokes to occur in patients who have had it.
Distinguishing between a seizure and TIA, often called a mini-stroke, can sometimes be difficult.
My first thought was that this was a TIA.
Rein in our emotions.
I understand that we need to maintain some decorum. Please remember and understand that this man has worked hard to destroy the greatest country in mankind's existence, and had a great deal of success at it. Would it be wrong to celebrate the ill health of Heinrich Himmler?
I won't wish the man ill, but I sure as hell won't pray for him, either. As far as I'm concerned, he's an agent of Satan.
I hope the man makes a full and healthy recovery. That being said, I also almost had a seizure listening to the sugary pap coming from a bimbo on FOX. BARF BARF BARF
They do have pretty good longevity if they can survive their early years.. but Teddy has beaten the heck out of himself too , intentionally and otherwise. He should just resign now, spare us all the drama, let a new lion roar. ;-)
Sounds like Gabriel was checking a couple of notes on his horn!
Best wishes for Senator Kennedy’s recovery.
Prayers for his health and wellness...we are all sinners of some sort here on earth. Sen. Ted’s leftist politics are disturbing...he has lived through several family tragedies so I cut him some slack. Wish he retires but like Bobby Byrd I think he will be leaving the Senate in a horizontal position...nevertheless get well Ted.
I hear the people you really got to watch out for are the ‘Remote Viewers’ 8-o
We can be com symps for the next 50 years and get a pension to boot!.
I couldn't bring myself to watch any of it. Besides, there was more entertainment on the doomed threads that were posted here.
there is alway hope. LOL
I guess adding “please” didn’t work....;)
As much as his policies and philosophy disgust me, I pray he’ll recover fully.
Didn’t your momma ever tell you.....you can’t herd cats:’)
Well said.
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