Sen. Kennedy preparing to 'do battle,' son says

[CountAllVotes]

Source: By MICHELLE R. SMITH, Associated Press Writer

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sen. Edward Kennedy enjoyed the Father's Day weekend surrounded by family at his home and preparing to "do battle," undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments for his brain cancer, said his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

The Rhode Island congressman told The Associated Press his father had been comforted by the company of friends and family in recent days, but that his visitors were aware he needed moments of quiet and breaks from entertaining as he fights the cancerous brain tumor.

"Everyone wants to be with him. But we also need to give him space and time to recover, where he doesn't have to be 'on,'" he said. "He's been through a lot. We want him to be strong for when he needs to do battle."

The Massachusetts Democrat returned to his home at Hyannis Port, Mass., on June 9, a week after undergoing aggressive surgery for the malignant glioma at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. He will undergo further treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he was diagnosed with the lethal tumor last month.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080615/ap_on_re_us/kennedy_cancer_1;_ylt=AhTnZqeHPyHmlmLqgKBstTtH2ocA

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There is a great slide show that links off of this story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Sen-Edward-Kennedy/ss/events/us/051708tedkennedy/s:/ap/20080615/ap_on_re_us/kennedy_cancer/im:/080526/480/1c3edaa3943b4441b707e9f689e51a8d/#photoViewer=/080609/480/ff8b5a7ba5ca429a976b2d4339e5bd20

Lots of great pictures and yeah, they teared me up on this Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to you Senator Kennedy. :loveya:

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Recommended.

If anyone has a shot at surviving this, it's the Old Lion.:thumbsup:

[tpsbmam]

2. Something to keep in mind as he goes through this process....

NONE of us ever know what is going to hit us and when. None of us. And none of us can predict based on statistics how any given individual is going to respond to treatment. People who have cancer can surprise you. A friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer (that means it had spread when diagnosed). This is a health-nut who never smoked (like Dana Reeve). I seriously thought that was it and it was going to be a short time. Damn near 3 years later, he's still putting up with chemo and its side-effects, but also living a pretty damn full life. So one never knows -- I hope the good Senator has lots and lots and lots of good days coming, the bad ones aren't too bad, and his great attitude, family support, and the well-wishes of a nation all set him on a path to many more father's days that he can truly enjoy.

[otohara]

3. Happy Father's Day Sen. Kennedy

we love you!

[babylonsister]

4. As he has done battle for all of us, may he use all that energy for

himself now. I'm so happy his family surrounds him and is so loving. That can only help.

[CountAllVotes]

5. he is fortunate in this way

he has a large family to support him and help him. I'm sure this will help as he fights this enormous battle he must undertake.

It is just so damn sad!

FIGHT ON Senator Kennedy!

:kick:

[barbtries]

6. i hope he makes it

[polichick]

7. God bless Uncle Teddy this Father's Day!

[lonestarnot]

8. Happy Father's Day Senator Kennedy!

:hug: :loveya:

[aquart]

9. I expect nothing less.

I just hope it's because HE won't quit, not because he thinks he has to for everybody else.

Teddy, you have reared a generation of honorable Kennedys. You have your legacy.