Kennedy Recovering from Successful Surgery--Looking Forward to “Doing Everything I Can to Help Elect Barack Obama as Our Next President”

By Frank D. Russo

Statements from Senator Ted Kennedy and his surgeons indicate the brain surgery he has just emerged from has been successful and he is on the mend and looking forward to returning to politics. Reports have stressed that these medical efforts cannot cure him from the cancer he is afflicted with, but there is hope that he will live a longer life as a result of them.

Kennedy released the following statement:

“I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge.

“I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness.

“Over the past several days, Vicki and I, along with my outstanding team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, have consulted with experts from around the country and have decided that the best course of action for my brain tumor is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation. This morning, I will be undergoing surgery with Dr. Allan Friedman at Duke University Medical Center and expect to remain there to recuperate for approximately one week.

“Shortly thereafter, I will start radiation treatments at Massachusetts General Hospital and begin chemotherapy. After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president.”

He is reported by a spokesperson to have quipped to his wife following the surgery, “I feel like a million bucks. I think I'll do that again tomorrow."

Dr. Allan Freidman, who performed brain surgery on Kennedy, said the following:

“I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy's surgery was successful and accomplished our goals. Senator Kennedy was awake during the resection, and should therefore experience no permanent neurological affects from the surgery.

“The surgery lasted roughly three and a half hours and is just the first step in Senator Kennedy's treatment plan. After a brief recuperation, he will begin targeted radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapy treatment. I hope that everyone will join us in praying for Senator Kennedy to have an uneventful and robust recovery.”

Comments

Posted by: A.Ctiizen at June 2, 2008 04:58 PM

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