LATEST: Ted Kennedy just cancelled his lunch meeting. boston.com has VIDEO of

[L. Coyote]

local breaking news and the best coverage:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/05/ted_kennedy_sai.html

Doctors believe that Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts suffered a seizure at his home in Hyannis Port this morning, then a second seizure as he was being transported by helicopter from Cape Cod Hospital to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to an official briefed on the situation.

His condition was unclear early this afternoon, as a special police security detail gathered at Mass. General. .....

===============
May 17, 2008 12:04 pm US/Eastern - http://wbztv.com/local/senator.ted.kennedy.2.726409.html
Kennedy Hospitalized With Stroke Symptoms


BOSTON (WBZ) ― U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was airlifted to a Boston hospital Saturday morning after suffering stroke-like symptoms at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport.

He was first rushed to Cape Cod Hospital, and after being in the emergency room for two hours he was transported to Barnstable Airport and was then flown to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The 76-year-old senator's condition was unknown Saturday.

The emergency call first came in at 8:19 a.m. at the Kennedy compound at 50 Marchant Ave.

Last October, Kennedy under went surgery at Mass. General after a partially blocked artery was found in his neck. The blockage was in his left carotid artery, which supplies blood to the brain and face.

The surgery was successful and Kennedy returned to work later that month. ............

[seemslikeadream]

1. DAMN

[lligrd]

2. Chit nt

[L. Coyote]

3. Obama: "My Thoughts and Prayers Are With Teddy"

Obama: "My Thoughts and Prayers Are With Teddy"
CBS News’ Maria Gavrilovic: - http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/05/17/politics/fromtheroad/entry4104597.shtml


EUGENE, ORE. -- Barack Obama spoke about his friend and supporter Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., as news broke this morning that Kennedy has been hospitalized.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Teddy,” Obama said. “He is one of my favorite people and so hopefully he is going to be okay.”

Obama said he has been in contact with the Kennedy family and hopes to get a better assessment of his health.

Obama, who is campaigning in Oregon today, spoke about Kennedy again while touring the Sacred Heart Hospital here.

“Ted Kennedy is a giant in American political history - he has done more for the 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 its going to turn out," Obama said.

..............

[dkf]

4. Another poster says CNN reported the family is "guardedly optimistic"!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3301359&mesg_id=3301430

[L. Coyote]

5. Politico, DC - 9 minutes ago = "after discussion with his doctors in Boston,”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10424.html

....

"after discussion with his doctors in Boston,” his staff said, “Senator Kennedy was sent to Massachusetts General Hospital for further examination. He is currently under evaluation, and information will be released as it becomes available."

..........

Senate sources, though, were being very careful about discussing the senator’s condition, given the potential seriousness of a stroke for a 76-year-old man.

[L. Coyote]

6. CNN: - 10 minutes ago = w VIDEO link

CNN: Ted Kennedy Hospitalized - 10 minutes ago - http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/17/kennedy.hospital/index.html


Kennedy was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for evaluation after initial treatment at Cape Cod Hospital, a statement from his office said.

The senator spent less than an hour in the Cape Cod facility, hospital spokesman David Reilly said.

Video Watch an update on Kennedy's condition » http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/17/kennedy.hospital/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

[EFerrari]

7. They're saying he had a siezure. That's doesn't sound very good.

:(

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Not saying seizures are good

(I suffered from them from ages 18 to 27), but it does sound a lot better than the initial report of a stroke. Regardless, hope he gets well- the country can still use him.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. I suppose it depends on what was causing the seizures.

It could be a lesser evil than a stroke depending.

[EFerrari]

15. True. It could be as simple as a meds side effect or something more

serious.

[LawSchoolLiberal]

13. Wait.

A seizure, (or two, as their now saying,) by itself, doesn't necessarily mean anything. I happen to have a seizure disorder, and, while inconvenient, it's certainly manageable. As long as it's not a sign of something else, it's not that bad. Onset of epilepsy among older people is not uncommon, and they're doing tests to make sure it's not part of a stroke or something else. Let's wait and see.

(Honestly, the biggest problem is being unable to drive for a period of time after a seizure, but when you're a Senator, you have people to drive you anyway. It's the same thing the Chief Justice ended up doing after his seizure.)

[EFerrari]

14. Well, that's good to know.

:)

[Irishonly]

8. Oh No

I hope he is ok.:(

[L. Coyote]

9. WA POST: 1:39 p.m. = "hospital is expected to provide a briefing this afternoon"

Presidential Candidates Offer Prayers for Sen. Kennedy
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/05/17/obama_offers_prayers_for_sen_k.html?hpid=topnews


The hospital is expected to provide a briefing this afternoon on the condition of the 76-year old Kennedy, who joined the Senate in 1962.

Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton also issued statements about the Massachusetts Democrat.

"I was very sorry to hear that Senator Kennedy has taken ill, and like millions of Americans, Cindy and I anxiously await word of his condition. Senator Kennedy's role in the U.S. Senate cannot be overstated," McCain said. .....

Clinton, campaigning in Kentucky, said: "My thoughts and prayers are with Ted Kennedy and his family today. We all wish him well and a quick recovery."

[DFW]

12. Teddy Kennedy had already been operated on for a clogged artery once before

They should have been watching him very closely (may be they were).
As long as 30 years ago, he told a friend of mine that it was a real
struggle for him to keep his weight down with all the official dinner
receptions etc etc that he was expected to attend. It almost got Bill
Clinton, too (McD didn't help), but after his bypass, Clinton has been
almost religious in following the dietary instructions given him by
his team of cardiologists. This is a subject of huge interest to me
because I have the same problem. It's not easy to suddenly stop eating
cheese, butter, cream, eggs, meat, coconuts and shellfish. But that's
exactly what I did. If Teddy Kennedy didn't after that first arterial
clog, then he should have known that he was a prime candidate for this.

Losing Teddy Kennedy as Senator from Massachusetts would be a major loss
for us in the Senate, and I'm glad that they got him to Mass General quickly.
That is one of the best hospitals there is, and if any place can restore him,
then Mass General can. If he can't resume his duties, I hope Gov. Patrick
appoints Joe III to fill out his term, or at least someone who is sure to
carry on his work. I know Joe III and his brother Bobby (a NY resident) are
still pretty close (I would have preferred Bobby, but he lives in the wrong state).

[L. Coyote]

16. BOSTON (WBZ): Not First Health Crisis For Kennedy

Not First Health Crisis For Kennedy
BOSTON (WBZ) ― Senator Ted Kennedy's hospitalization Saturday for a seizure is not the 76-year-old senator's first health scare.
http://wbztv.com/local/senator.edward.kennedy.2.726458.html

In October, the senior Senator from Massachusetts had surgery to repair a nearly complete
blockage in one of his carotid arteries - a major artery that supplies blood to the brain.

.... Doctors said at the time that Senator Kennedy's left carotid artery had, "a very high-grade blockage."

An hour-long procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital to clear the artery was deemed a success ....

According to doctor accounts after that surgery, Kennedy takes blood-pressure and cholesterol medication

Senator Ted Kennedy is plagued by chronic back pain, ever since a 1964 plane crash that killed a pilot and one of Kennedy's aides. Along with the back injury, he suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs and internal bleeding in that crash.

[mike_c]

17. hoping for the best for Sen. Kennedy....

Best wishes for a full and fast recovery!

[L. Coyote]

18. UPDATE from Kennedy spokesperson: "Kennedy is resting comfortably"

Kennedy spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner said. ....

"It appears that Senator Kennedy experienced a seizure this 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."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=axUjwkEmPbHM&refer=home

[L. Coyote]

19. Sen. ‘joking’ with kin while tests done

Kennedy in hospital after seizure
But beloved Sen. ‘joking’ with kin while tests done
By Dave Wedge and Casey Ross
Sunday, May 18, 2008 - Updated 41m ago - http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1094778&srvc=home&position=also


Massachusetts and the political world is holding its collective breath today as the state’s legendary senior senator, Edward M. Kennedy, lies in a Hub hospital recovering from a seizure - the latest health scare for the colorful 76-year-old statesman.

Kennedy was conscious, talking and “joking” with family members in his room last night at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was flown after being stricken at his family’s Hyannis Port compound, family said.

Dr. Larry Ronan, the senator’s primary care physician, said last night Kennedy “is not in any immediate danger. He’s resting comfortably, and watching the Red Sox game with his family. Over the next couple of days, Sen. Kennedy will undergo further evaluation to determine the cause of the seizure, and a course of treatment will be determined at that time.”

........