Kennedy Back Home After Trip To Hospital

Mass. Senator Had Been Taken By Ambulance After Complaining Of Feeling Sick

(CBS/AP)  Sen. Edward Kennedy returned home hours after he was taken by ambulance to a hospital near his Cape Cod vacation residence Friday after complaining of feeling ill.

A statement issued by his office attributed the episode to a change in medications.

Sen. John Kerry said his fellow Massachusetts Democrat was well and hoped to watch the evening's presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

Kennedy "looks forward to watching the debate," the statement from his office said.

A 911 call from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port came around 5 p.m., said Barnstable police Sgt. Ben Baxter. Kennedy was taken to Cape Cod Hospital and was "alert and responsive" during the trip, Baxter said.

He had a seizure in May and underwent surgery in June for a malignant brain tumor. After undergoing six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, he has been steadily increasing his public activity.

Kennedy had told reporters visiting his Hyannis Port home on Tuesday that he was actively following the presidential race. "I'm going to be following it particularly next Friday," the senator said with a laugh.

He received a visit that day from Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at his home in his first public appearance since he gave a surprise speech in late August at the Democratic National Convention.

Bachelet presented the senator with her country's highest civilian award - the Order to the Merit of Chile - in recognition of his opposition to the country's 1973 government overthrow and his work to cut off military aid to dictator Augusto Pinochet.

At the meeting, the senator stumbled momentarily as he tried to walk on the thick grass, but he quickly regained his balance. While he didn't take questions from reporters, he departed from his prepared text to point out landmarks to Bachelet and tell a story about a friend in the crowd.

"There's a wonderful relationship between our family and the sea that goes back a long time," he said as he pointed to Nantucket Sound and the mooring where his schooner "Mya" rocked in the waves.

In early September, Kennedy announced he would not return to the Senate until January, but he has since held videoconferences with his staff and members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which he leads.

Kennedy surprised his colleagues in July when he made a surprise return to Capitol Hill to vote on a Medicare bill.

[cdfoxtrot3]

Ted Kennedy and his family have done a lot of good for this country and for the world. He deserves our best wishes.

[andrewplaw]

Take care... Our prayers are with you...

[erniepf]

republic1776: Wow, Cap''n Courageous - did you already come down with a stroke, or have you always been this wretchedly stupid?

[melodyann49]

Teddy, please don''t leave us now! We need you more than ever. May God bless you and wrap you in her healing embrace.

[barbaraf4]

"I hope he suffers as much as the people he made suffer. Posted by republic1776
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bad karma.

[hbevis]

republic1776: Wow, Cap''''n Courageous - did you already come down with a stroke, or have you always been this wretchedly stupid?

Posted by ErniePF at 08:02 PM : Sep 26, 2008
+ report abuse
I hope he suffers as much as the people he made suffer.

Posted by republic1776 at 07:57 PM : Sep 26, 2008

LET HIM SUFFER, TO H.E.L.L. WITH HIM. HE HAS MADE OTHER PEOPLE PAY FOR HIS MISTAKES FOR YEARS.

[swwils]

Is this actually news.I mean I wonder how many of our soldiers were taken to hospital today.The true American Blue Bloods!

[antepamfe200]

Ted, my prayers are with you. God bless.

[nextgenman]

Republic and Hbevis,

We prayed for Senator Kennedy at our church. Many people felt conviction from a feeling of hatred that they had towards this Senator based on what he has done in the past.

Pray that the Senator gets prepared to meet his Creator. That will be a terrible time for him.

Posted by easeltine at 08:27 PM : Sep 26, 2008
--------

Another Nutball that thinks he knows God''s Plan. You have a witch hunter pastor too?

[nextgenman]

nextGenMan,

I will remind you that Senator Kennedy is Roman Catholic.

Posted by easeltine at 08:35 PM : Sep 26, 2008
-------

What does that have to do with anything? Why do you say meeting his Creator will be a terrible time?

[wlmrtpatriot]

Dear Sen. Kennedy: We prayed for you today also. Now go home, go to bed, get off the stage.

[demwatcher]

Best wishes for Sen Kennedy and his family and friends.

[danielle_mom]

Thankfully he has family and friends. I was wondering how serious it was when McCain mentioned it after Obama introduction speech.

[gringovejo]

What the hell is wrong with you people. This man is and
has been one of the best in the Senate. He has done a
lot more for the people of this country then most have.
I am a longtime member of the GOP and I totally resent
your stupid and unwarranted remarks. Get well, Teddy,
you are still very much needed.

[hjedtyj]

Ted looks great for someone who has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation in contrast to other cancer patients and makes one wonder if he is really sick at all? It shouldn''t surprise anyone if his illness is an orchestrated publicity fraud designed to remove his 1968 scandal of Chappaquidic from his legacy?

What do you think?

[airboatboy1]

Teddy, you might have a bad day or two ahead, but I guess you''ll have to cross that bridge when it comes.

This great man has been thru the easy part of surgery. Now trying to survive the medication is the rough part.

[ann3332]

Praying for Ted

[xlib]

hjedtyja-I''m a nurse and have given chemo to primary brain tumor patients. The type of tumor ted has is called a GBM and is one of the most virulent of brain tumors. The chemo generally given for this tumor causes less nausea and sickness than other treatments. Also, there are medications out now that greatly reduce the side effects. There are times after chemo that a person may not have the ability to fight infection and such.
However, there are times when they feel fine and I''m sure ted is getting the best of care. So, it is possible that he does look good at times. The general outlook for this type of brain tumor is not good.
I disagree with him politically and feel he got away with the murder of Maryjo Kopeckne but, I do not wish this brain tumor on anyone.

[xlib]

surch4truth-get off your soap box for a change. For God''s sake, if there is any hate or sniping the majority is from your side.

[jeannec3]

I feel MORE sorry for Mary Jo Kopechne''s family. He killed that young girl by leaving her to drowned in that car on July 19.1969. My only hope is that he will suffer as much,if not more,then that young girl. No murder should go unpunished !

[praiseallah1]

Read Paulsons "Nigerian Scam Letter" he sent to Nancy Pelosi at http://www.WallStreetMarketNews.com on the front page of their Official Blog.

Funniest thing I ever read and it''s all true! I''m emailing it to everyone I know!