Ted Kennedy Recovering After Seizure

Doctors Work To Determine Cause Of Illness That Hospitalized Mass. Senator

(AP)  Doctors were working Sunday to determine the cause of a seizure that sent Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to the hospital and prompted an outpouring of support for the liberal political icon.

The 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat spent a peaceful night at Massachusetts General Hospital, a top aide said, and few details of his condition were expected before a battery of tests was completed by Monday at the earliest.

"Sen. Kennedy had a good night's sleep and we expect today to be a very quiet day," said the aide, who requested anonymity because of hospital practices concerning the privacy of patient information.

The lone surviving son in a famed political family was flown Saturday morning to Massachusetts General after becoming ill and being treated at the emergency room of Cape Cod Hospital.

His physician said he did not suffer a stroke, as was first suspected, and he recovered enough by Saturday afternoon to watch a Boston Red Sox game on television and eat takeout food from the city's famed Legal Sea Foods. His wife, Vicki, his five children and stepchildren and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, were among those to visit him.

"Over the next couple of days, Senator Kennedy will undergo further evaluation to determine the cause of the seizure, and a course of treatment will be determined at that time," said Dr. Larry Ronan, who added Kennedy was "not in any immediate danger."

In October, Kennedy had surgery to remove a blockage in his left carotid artery - a main supplier of blood to the face and brain. This type of operation is performed on more than 180,000 people a year to prevent a stroke. The blockage was discovered during a routine exam.

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 a transient ischemic attack, 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. 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.

"Sen. Kennedy was at high risk because he had surgery for an artery in his neck," said Dr. Wendy Wright, an assistant professor at The Emory Clinic, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery.

But she said there are a lot of things that can cause seizures, such as an infection or medication.

"Certain medications are known to cause seizures. A stroke can cause a seizure, a brain tumor or a head injury, or something in the brain itself," Wright said. "Common symptoms that we know about are falling on the ground, shaking and having confusion."

Kennedy, the second-longest serving member of the Senate and a dominant figure in national Democratic Party politics, was elected in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy, who was elected president in 1960.

His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash, while President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A third brother, Robert, was assassinated amid a presidential campaign 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, who is trying to become the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy made several campaign appearances for the Illinois senator in February, and most recently another in April.

Last week, he and Caroline Kennedy awarded the annual "Profiles in Courage" award commemorating President Kennedy. And Friday, he attended a ribbon cutting at the New 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.

[ralan40]

Since many Kennedy males never live as long as he has, it would be hard to say what is wrong with him.

Perhaps it is a result of an old head injury from an car accident....

[dorlockt]

Kennedy has a sincere passion for helping Americans. If you watched his plea to the Senate to raise the Minimun Wage...you''''''''d know the man is dedicated to our country and it''''''''s people. Posted by fain6 at 12:34 PM : May 19, 2008

I would have loved to but you cant understand a word he says. uuuurrrr rum errrrrr rum..my daddy made all
his money bootlegging errrr rum errr rum.

Posted by guad07rg at 01:12 PM : May 19, 2008


That fat bassturd needs to drop already so a new slimeball lib can take his place there in Mass.

[guad07rg]

Kennedy has a sincere passion for helping Americans. If you watched his plea to the Senate to raise the Minimun Wage...you''''d know the man is dedicated to our country and it''''s people. Posted by fain6 at 12:34 PM : May 19, 2008

I would have loved to but you cant understand a word he says. uuuurrrr rum errrrrr rum..my daddy made all
his money bootlegging errrr rum errr rum.

[libh8er]

Kennedy has a sincere passion for helping Americans.
Posted by fain6 at 12:34 PM : May 19, 2008

Yes, I understand he wants to introduce a bill that would fund teaching all young women how to swim!

[fain6]

It appears tht the Right Wing Judgement-al Self Rightous Bigots have been reduced to ranting on line. Losing it... you jerks?
Kennedy has a sincere passion for helping Americans. If you watched his plea to the Senate to raise the Minimun Wage...you''d know the man is dedicated to our country and it''s people. You, who have never made a mistake are so adept at casting stones.. it seems that''s all you can do.Even that you don''t dowell.....simpletons.

[guad07rg]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Mr. Kennedy. You are needed now more than ever.

Posted by briannorwood at 07:50 AM : May 19, 2008
Yes there are still plenty of waitresses who need groping, Illegal Aliens who need to be let in, US servicemen and women who need betraying, More taxes to
be raisining, more Teachers unions to be protecting,
and the big one that caused the siezure, more booze to be drinking

[cpaide]

"But us mortals have an easier time understanding why, in a situation like that, one or both of them would die."
Posted by ubrew12

ya, but i don''t get why it wasn''t teddy who died. and why he didn''t even try to get help. maybe he thought he was one of the immortals and just knew she was dead so why bother. that explains a lot. thank you for that dumb-@$$ explanation. teddy thanks you and says that immortals do NOT have strokes and that the stories of his drinking are greatly underestimated. he will be returning shortly for more of the same, thank you.

[msay3]

"Common symptoms that we know about are falling on the ground, shaking and having confusion."

Hmmmmm.....I believe you are onto something there, Lib8.

[ubrew12]

DaVicar2 said: "Too bad Mary Jo Kopechne never recovered from her little ''''seizure''''! "

They overturned their car into 4 ft of freezing water at midnight off a country bridge in the middle of nowhere. Water entered instantly through the shattered windows, which buckled under the pressure. I give someone 30 seconds, TOPS, to extricate themselves from such a situation (step one: unbuckle seat-belt while freezing water enters your unside-down nose), and they were probably both plastered.

I''m sure, in such a situation, you would have used your teeth as the ''jaws of life'', to pry the bottom of the car away from your passenger. But us mortals have an easier time understanding why, in a situation like that, one or both of them would die.

[jack3213]

I concur- the man drinks like a fish or did- doesn''t look well- and though it is sad he is not well, and as a human being we all wish him well- the person does not change their spots, either.

[libh8er]

No next year!
Posted by mudrose at 09:55 AM : May 19, 2008

I concur

[mudrose-2009]

''''Ted Kennedy Recovering After Seizure''''

A symptom of too much tequila! Hey Ted, cinco de mayo is over buddy......you don''''t need to pander to the illegal aliens anymore. Save it for next year!
Posted by LibH8er

It''s time the fates intervene. No next year!

[wayne1231]

I *heard* on a NY radio station that the seizures were induced by reaction to substandard alcohol. Apparently an aid put someting like "White Hoarse" into the Senators morning cup rather the top quality stuff. :)

[libh8er]

''Ted Kennedy Recovering After Seizure''

A symptom of too much tequila! Hey Ted, cinco de mayo is over buddy......you don''t need to pander to the illegal aliens anymore. Save it for next year!

[txgrouch2004]

JackP32 wrote
The coverup following the Chappaquiddick incident was one of the best in our history
------------
And it was capped off by WATERGATE, which was designed to make the Republicans look as bad as the Democrats did after Chappaquiddick.

Why do you think Teddy was DIRECTLY INVOLVED in the "investigation???"

[fuzzybear9]

Hello AMerica, and welcome back Ted you Evil old Bassterd

well another missed opportunity for a New Federal Holiday in may from the Socialist Liberal Black Caccus.
all our hopes for a New Holiday were dashed when O.J. Simpson didn`t get shot in that Las Vegas robbery.

yes Ted your still alive, and maybe just as well,
now you will not be able to slip away into oblivion without seeing all the missery you and your brothers Bobby, and Jack caused for hundreds of Millions of Americans.
yes Ted it is better for you to go down to your grave knowing you carry the legacy of single handedly destroying the United States of America with your Black Caccus.

sincerely wishing you better luck next Time
Fuzzy Bear

[jackp32]

The coverup following the Chappaquiddick incident was one of the best in our history. It involved the entire political and criminal justice system in Mass. What was done to protect Teddy is an incredible story. I urge those of you who are not familiar with the details to study the case. It will sicken you.

[dorlockt]

It lived? Pshaw!

Posted by mudrose at 08:52 AM : May 19, 2008

Well, considering of whom we speak, "living" is a relative term. :)

[mudrose-2009]

It lived? Pshaw!

[dorlockt]

Oh well, he lived through it. Better luck next time everyone. The killer whale from Nantucket still lives to help drive Massachusetts further into the ground.