Ted Kennedy
- Due Jul 14, 2022 at 7am
- Points 28
- Questions 9
- Available Jul 13, 2022 at 9am - Jul 20, 2022 at 7am
- Time Limit None
Instructions
On May 17, 2008, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy suffered two seizures. Initially, Kennedy's poor cardiovascular health pointed to a stroke, but within days it was announced that the Senator had malignant glioblastoma. On June 2, 2008, surgeons removed much of the tumor from the left parietal lobe of his cerebrum before beginning aggressive radiation and chemotherapy.
Kennedy surprised many colleagues when he arrived on the Senate floor on July 9, to break a filibuster holding up Medicare legislation. However, this was completely in character for the man who had spent much of his 46-year career in the U.S. Senate fighting for the support of cancer research, mental health insurance coverage, and healthcare reform, especially for children. The following month Kennedy energized the Democratic National Convention with his "the dream lives on" speech and repeatedly return to the Senate for key notes in early 2009.
Over the summer, however, his condition deteriorated. On August 25, 2009, Senator Edward Kennedy died, just months before healthcare reform was passed by Congress.