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Kennedy Suffers Seizure, Rushed to Hospital
May 17, 2008 12:39 PM
ABC News' Rick Klein, Rich Esposito, David Schoetz and Ed O'Keefe report: Sen. Ted Kennedy suffered a seizure while at the Kennedy family compound this weekend in Hyannisport, Mass.
Here is the statement from Kennedy's Senate office:
"It appears that Senator Kennedy experienced a seizure (Saturday) morning. He is undergoing a battery of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure. Senator Kennedy is resting comfortably, and it is unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours."
Kennedy, D-Mass., who has served in the Senate since 1962, was taken by ambulance to a Cape Cod hospital Saturday morning and was later flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston by helicopter. The Kennedy family is headed to Boston to be with the Senator. Ethel Kennedy, who was campaigning for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in South Dakota, has left the trail and also is headed to Boston.
"We got a 911 call at 8:19 a.m. this morning for a request for an ambulance," Lt. Bill Rex, a spokesperson for Hyannisport Fire & Rescue, confirmed to ABC News. "We transfered one male to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis."
Lt. Rex also confirmed that an ambulance later was used to transport Kennedy to an airlift from Barnstable Municipal Airport for an emergency flight to Boston.
The Cape Cod Times first reported the medical emergency and has posted a photo of the Senator being take to a MediFlight on a stretcher.
A Democratic Senate source tells ABC News, "The situation is serious. We just don't know how serious."
The Kennedy family was set to host the annual Best Buddies Challenge event Saturday evening at the Kennedy family compound.
Sen. Obama, who received the endorsement of the Senator and Caroline Kennedy prior to the critical Super Tuesday contests in February, told reporters he has "been in contact with the [Kennedy] family." He said, "They are in our thoughts and prayers ... as I have said many times before, Ted Kennedy is a giant in American political history, he has done more for health care of others than just about anybody in history and so we are going to be rooting for him and I insist on being optimistic about how it's going to turn out."
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican nominee, also released a statement on Kennedy, saying, "I was very sorry to hear that Sen. Kennedy has taken ill, and like millions of Americans, Cindy and I anxiously await word of his condition. Sen. Kennedy's role in the U.S. Senate cannot be overstated. He is a legendary lawmaker, and I have the highest respect for him."
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., campaigning in Loretto, Ky., said, "We had word this morning that my good friend and a great champion of working people, Ted Kennedy, was rushed to the hospital with symptoms of a stroke, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family because he has been a champion for health care. Nobody has fought harder to make sure everybody gets good health care and I know that we all join together wishing him well."
ABC News' Eloise Harper, Bret Hovell, George Stephanopoulos and Sunlen Miller contributed to this report.
May 17, 2008 in Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (74)
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Hope he recovers then retires and goes away to his dad's compound. what the heck is a compound!
Posted by: he's been in office since 1962 | May 17, 2008 1:22:41 PM
So what...what good has this person done us...
Posted by: Duane | May 17, 2008 1:22:48 PM
My prayers are with the Kennedy family, so much loss that family has dealt with over the years. While I do not support his politics, I never the less would not wish any more suffering on his family. God be with them.
Posted by: Be ever vigilant | May 17, 2008 1:23:30 PM
Get Well Soon Mr. Kennedy. Ignore these idiots!
Posted by: Hope4All | May 17, 2008 1:24:10 PM
I can't believe the rude, idiotic comments people have posted. I can't imagine being so heartless and I hope I never stoop to that level. My best wishes go out to the Kennedy family.
Posted by: I actually care | May 17, 2008 1:26:43 PM
Now if only Reid, Pelosi, Murtha, Biden, Obama, suffered with the same aillment I could sleep easier.
Posted by: TH | May 17, 2008 1:26:57 PM
Hey "praying for some sense" FYI..I'm NOT Catholic and I pray for ALL of humanity all the time. In case you haven't looked around lately we are all in trouble...Kindness and compassion will go much further than bitterness and hatred.
Posted by: sharon sennett | May 17, 2008 1:29:20 PM
Hey, people, please don't hop up and down with glee because Senator Kennedy has been hospitalized. I sure don't agree with his politics, but here's a sick man, elderly, with an iffy health history. I hope he recovers! Afterwards, I think it would be a good thing for him to retire.
Posted by: castelyn | May 17, 2008 1:31:43 PM
Woah, that's no good. Another thing that is not good is all the hate-mongers that think it's funny when bad things happen to people. I'm as conservative, capitalist, republican as they come and I don't think it's cool when people take lightly other peoples' lives. Not cool.
Posted by: Nate Nead | May 17, 2008 1:32:45 PM
Although I am very disappointed in Senator Kennedy, for endorsing an inexperienced presidential choice. I don't wish him any ill health, hopefully he recovers soon.
Posted by: Tina from Florida | May 17, 2008 1:34:42 PM
If your deeds are good, but the words you speak are evil, you will be judged by the words not the deeds, what I see here makes me cringe to think of all the good deeds being undone by foul words. His deeds and words will be judged by the Father in heaven it is not our place, and I personally don't want anyone elses sins placed on my soul because I chose to judge in Gods place.
Posted by: Be ever vigilant | May 17, 2008 1:35:08 PM
You know, when Ronald Regan died, although I didn't really like the guy all that much politically, I still felt a little bit of saddness. Same with Gerald Ford(though, admitedly, I knew less of Ford since I'm an 80s baby)...and as a non-catholic when Pope John Paul II died, I felt saddness...I don't see what people get by attacking people's careers when they are ill...I just don't get it.
Posted by: Steven | May 17, 2008 1:40:34 PM
I am with Hope except that I am not Republican. Have we lost the ability to be compassionate towards someone just as a show of common decency? No wonder we have so much violence in this country. Senator Kennedy is an amazing human being. Anyone who watches the news knows he isn't perfect. Can't we just stop all of this bullshit and approach life from the perspective of decency, or are we too far gone. I hope not. My prayers go out to the Kennedy family. I pray for a full and speedy recovery for the Senator. God Bless.
Posted by: cathy | May 17, 2008 1:42:53 PM
Stop and think, If this was your father, uncle or grandfather, you would not want people making these comments, regardless of what they may have done. This family is suffering, their family member may be dying. Have some compassion and sympathy.
Posted by: Be ever vigilant | May 17, 2008 1:48:20 PM
Senator Kennedy is a legend in public service to mankind. I hope he has a speedy recovery......May the Lord help him through this and may God comfort and continue to bless his family.....
-Shalom
Posted by: Shalom | May 17, 2008 1:55:49 PM
You people are off your rockers! Kennedy is a mean person. He ran off the road and made no effort to help that woman. He befriended Hillary and put a knife in her back, politically..some friend. He's a nasty person..typical libs... the meaner a person is, they admire or feel SORRY (FEELINGS!), for them. Liberalism is a mental disorder. See Carter meeting with the Hamas. HAMAS is a TERROR Group! THEY KILL PEOPLE and Obama wants to have tea with people who have blood on their hands. God, please help this society!
Posted by: god help us | May 17, 2008 1:57:48 PM
We are not elected officials who put themselves in the news to be admired or hated. He did it to himself.
Posted by: get over it! | May 17, 2008 2:02:30 PM
In my 55-years I think Massachusetts is the most impressive in my personal life..the question still persists../..WHY do they continue on w/Kennedy..??../its not even a political parfiet../or a candy cane..I have always wondered about the vocab-side associated w/the Kennedy name.
Posted by: Mark S. M. | May 17, 2008 2:02:35 PM
I'm a conservative and disagree strongly with Ted's politics but pray for his recovery. One thing I notice though, is all those left leaning "posters" here are calling for love and compassion while spewing hate speech and wishing the worst for Bush. Kind of hypocritical.
Posted by: LLADNARC | May 17, 2008 2:03:59 PM
Wish Kennedy recovery. No need to take low blows for him, but even though we disagree with him on his selection, we respect his views and wish him recovery.
Posted by: Knowledgeforreal | May 17, 2008 2:05:25 PM
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