SENATOR TED KENNEDY SAID TO BE RESTING AFTER SEIZURE
SENATOR SUFFERED SEIZURE AT HOME
UPDATED: 4:57 pm CDT May 17, 2008
HYANNIS, Mass. — A spokeswoman says Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy is resting comfortably after suffering a seizure at his home.
Spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Kennedy is undergoing tests to determine the cause of the seizure. Kennedy’s wife, Victoria, is with him at Masschusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Cutter said Kennedy went to Cape Cod Hospital Saturday morning “after feeling ill at his home.” After discussion with his doctors in Boston, Kennedy was airlifted to Massachusetts General.
An official had earlier said that Kennedy had stroke-like symptoms. The hospital has declined to comment on his condition.
Kennedy was first rushed by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital after falling ill at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, Mass., on Saturday morning.
Hyannis fire responded to the compound after a call was made around 8:30 a.m., the Cape Cod Times newspaper reported on its Web site. After he spent almost two hours in the emergency room, he was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital, reported WCVB-TV in Boston.
Kennedy, 76, was placed on a stretcher and wheeled out to the MedFlight helicopter around 10:15 a.m., where it took off from Barnstable Municipal Airport, the newspaper reported.
CNN reported that Kennedy himself called another family member around 10:30 a.m. EDT and said he couldn’t make a lunch planned for later Saturday. Family members said early Saturday afternoon that they were “guardedly optimistic” about the senator’s condition, CNN reported.
Kennedy has been in the Senate since his election in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.
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.
“We know that everyone in Massachusetts and people throughout the nation pray for a full and speedy recovery for a man whose life’s work has touched millions upon millions of lives,” the statement said.
The campaign for Sen. Barack Obama, who Kennedy endorsed earlier this year, released a statement from Obama saying, “My thoughts and prayers are with Teddy; He is one of my favorite people.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain, the likely GOP presidential nominee, also released a statement saying, “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. When we have worked together, he has been a skillful, fair and generous partner.”
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton discussed Kennedy during a campaign stop in Loretto, Ky., on Saturday, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family because he has been a champion for health care … I know that we all join together in wishing him well.”
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
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SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY
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Senator Theodore Moore Kennedy has been a member of Congress for more than 45 years. He has fought for the rights of working-class people, no matter their race, or gender. Sen. Kennedy has championed for better health care for all Americans. He has stood against many in Congress who fought against many of his bills and initiatives. He has also won over many enemies who came around to seeing things his way, especially bills and resolutions that helped Americans from all walks of life.
May God watch over and protect you, Sen. Kennedy.
They do not make them like you anymore.
