Kennedy Returns Home To Recuperate From Brain Surgery
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After recovering for a week from brain surgery, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was released from the hospital Monday.
Doctors for the 76 year-old Massachusetts Democrat are pleased with Kennedy’s progress since his June 2 operation, and he will continue to recuperate at his Hyannis Port home before starting radiation treatments and chemotherapy, according to a statement from Kennedy’s office.
Kennedy was treated at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He will receive further treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Allan H. Friedman, deputy director at the brain tumor center, said in a statement: “The senator and his wife Vicki are wonderful people, and I hope you will join me in wishing them the best as they continue their difficult journey to fight this disease. Their courageous and positive attitude is a lesson for us all.â€
Kennedy “is thankful for the extraordinary care of the doctors and nurses at Duke, and also for the continued prayers and well wishes from the people of Massachusetts and all over the country,†according to the statement.
His office also said that to protect the family’s privacy, there will no longer be regular updates on Kennedy’s schedule or treatment plans.
The surgery was meant to treat a malignant glioma, or brain tumor. Doctors diagnosed Kennedy on May 20, three days after he had a seizure at his family compound on Cape Cod.
It’s unclear if and when Kennedy will return to the Senate. As a long-time member and current chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee he’s become one of the chamber’s most influential members.
In the meantime, Kennedy has appointed surrogates on the HELP committee to negotiate legislation.
For example, Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland will handle the overhaul of the Higher Education Act (HR 4137, S 1642). And Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, one of Kennedy’s closest friends and the No. 2 Democrat on the committee, will lead the ongoing effort to forge consensus on the Mental Health Parity Act (S 558, HR 1424).
Kennedy’s influence has extended to the presidential campaign as well. In January, Kennedy endorsed Sen. Barack Obama , D-Ill., and Obama asked Caroline Kennedy — Kennedy’s niece and daughter of former President John F. Kennedy — to help him pick a running mate.
In a statement prior to his surgery on June 2, Kennedy said he was eager to return to work and wanted “to help elect Barack Obama as our next president.â€
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