Senator Kennedy's "final rounds"? Please keep fighting, Teddy! (updated)

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday February 20, 2009 · 8:24 PM PST

2009/02/20 · 20:24

The Boston Globe has been running a seven-part series on Senator Ted Kennedy this week. The series is drawn from Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy. Edited by Peter Cannelos, the Globe's Washington Bureau Chief, the book contains contributions from several Globe reporters.

This week's Globe series on Senator Kennedy includes videos, his speeches, slide shows and interviews, and even family letters. The series is excellent, and I'm interested in reading the entire book.

Today the Globe's competitor, the Boston Herald, published its own article, Is Vicki Kennedy ready to succeed? Although we're well aware that Senator Kennedy is facing an uphill battle against his cancer, reading this excerpt from the Herald article just made my heart sink:

Sen. Ted Kennedy, wintering in an undisclosed location in Florida, may never return to the Senate, friends say, as his battle with brain cancer enters its final rounds.

"He’s someplace sunny, near the water, where he can rest and sail," said a pal of the senior senator. "Time is of the essence. It’s very sad."

....Although family members have said publicly that the senator is doing "good," privately those close to Kennedy say he may only have a few months to live.

"He’s very sick," said another Kennedy associate. "He’s actually done well to get to this point."

We know Senator Kennedy is a fighter, and it's difficult to face the reality that he may not be winning his battle against cancer. The Herald article continues:

Because of Kennedy’s condition, off-the-record speculation about the future of his Senate seat has been rampant this week - especially in light of a seven-part Boring Broadsheet opus that is being widely viewed as a premature obituary. And yesterday’s installment was interpreted by some close to the matter as the first step in a torch-passing to Kennedy’s wife, Vicki.

If the reports of Senator Kennedy's condition are true, this is truly heartbreaking news. My thoughts and prayers are with him. For all of us who appreciate this incredible man's courage and accomplishments, it might be a good time to drop him a note of thanks and encouragement at his website.

All the best to you, dear Senator Kennedy. We're pulling for you!

UPDATE: noweasels noted in a comment that Senator Kennedy's 77th birthday is Sunday, and that we can send him a birthday greeting here.

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.