Senator Kennedy Hospitalized

[The_Fractal_King]

too bad we don't develop an immunity to pain and loss.

If you had no concept of pain or loss you'd hardly be a human being.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If you had no concept of pain or loss you'd hardly be a human being.

Nor would you be able to develop an immunity.

 

[TE999]

Tragedy seems to stalk the Kennedy's.

Death in war, assassinations, alchoholisim, mental illness, birth defects, drugs, plane crashes...

A noble yet flawed legacy of public service, plagued by scandal and self-inflicted wounds.

And now the final chapter is being written for the last of Joe and Rose's children.

Love 'em or hate 'em, they're a true American Dynasty.

 

[The_Fractal_King]

Nor would you be able to develop an immunity.

Of course not . . .

 

[Stella_Omega]

Of course not . . .

Therefore someone who had developed an immunity to pain and loss would have had some familiarity with it. And would retain the concept, and be human.

Tragedy seems to stalk the Kennedy's.

Death in war, assassinations, alchoholisim, mental illness, birth defects, drugs, plane crashes...

A noble yet flawed legacy of public service, plagued by scandal and self-inflicted wounds.

And now the final chapter is being written for the last of Joe and Rose's children.

Love 'em or hate 'em, they're a true American Dynasty.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Understanding Sen. Kennedy's Cancer Diagnosis; NPR

 

[The_Fractal_King]

Therefore someone who had developed an immunity to pain and loss would have had some familiarity with it. And would retain the concept, and be human.

Which would be lost as the person found that nothing had value anymore. Besides, the concept would be distant and meaningless without the capacity to experience it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Which would be lost as the person found that nothing had value anymore. Besides, the concept would be distant and meaningless without the capacity to experience it.

Pain and sorrow are the only things that have value?

That's so... sad.

 

[tickledkitty]

Which would be lost as the person found that nothing had value anymore. Besides, the concept would be distant and meaningless without the capacity to experience it.

Fractal...It's good to see you over here.

 

[The_Fractal_King]

Pain and sorrow are the only things that have value?

That's so... sad.

They give other things value. If someone dies and one has no feeling of loss that death means nothing except in a pragmatic sense. Without the ability to be hurt emotions become selfish and callow.

On the plus side you could still be a happy person.

Fractal...It's good to see you over here.

And picking cheery, upbeat things to talk about. Nice to see you as well.

 

[tickledkitty]

And picking cheery, upbeat things to talk about. Nice to see you as well.

*shrugs*

You always seem to have intelligent, thoughtful things to say no matter where you post. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Understanding Sen. Kennedy's Cancer Diagnosis; NPR

Here is another site with information.

http://www.braintumorsite.com/

Hmm, it's dated, though.

Any search on glios will uncover information, most of it depressing.

 

[jomar]

I just heard on NPR he's doing pretty well. Alert, talking, walking, watching TV; probably be in the hospital a few more days for observation. So in light of that good news, I would have thought his liver would catch up to him before anything else.

Fascinating family.

 

[Boxlicker101]

SHEREADS & THE USUAL SUSPECT

I'm the official spokesman for 75% of America and their special sentiments for Teddy.

No you're not. Many of us here, including myself, have little use for Edward M. Kennedy, either as a senator or as a human being, but we wouldn't wish this on him. We wouldn't wish this on anybody, except maybe Bin Ladin or others of his ilk.

 

[Stella_Omega]

They give other things value. If someone dies and one has no feeling of loss that death means nothing except in a pragmatic sense. Without the ability to be hurt emotions become selfish and callow.

Actually, thinking more carefuller, I tend to agree-- and I can instance examples here and there of folk who have lost their empathy to one degree or another for (possibly) this reason.

The nit I was picking-- is that 'developing an immunity' is not quite the same as 'having no concept'. One would still have the concept. It's a nit, but it's pickable.

 

[Guest]

No you're not. Many of us here, including myself, have little use for Edward M. Kennedy, either as a senator or as a human being, but we wouldn't wish this on him. We wouldn't with this on anybody, except maybe Bin Ladin or others of his ilk.

Please don't quote him.

 

[Urguycliff]

I know his family is going thru a lot right now and since most all of us have gone through the sadness and pain of having a loved one in poor health we can feel for them. As a man he was never in the same league as his brothers and he has always been somewhat of a coward and a fake. Those who live in the area near him know that he is not interested in the enviroment and doesn't mind seeing the working class taxed to the poor house. He has lost his poltical power as shown by the fact he couldn't deliver his state to the person he is backing for president. And you can be sure with all the freebe's the politicans have that he doesn't worry about his health insurance. He could have done so much for the country but like 99% of the people we put in office and we are fools enought to keep electing them over and over, he has very little to leave us.

But again for his family and him as an individual we wish him the best.

 

[cloudy]

How sad. We're going to lose another icon.

The Kennedy's have dealt with so much loss. My heart goes out to them.

 

[Guest]

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2034568120080520

Glioma diagnosis is grave news for Sen. Kennedy

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A diagnosis of malignant glioma is grave news for Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, brain experts said on Tuesday.

A malignant glioma kills half its victims within a year and patients rarely survive more than three years. Even surgery cannot cure such a tumor, which sends fingers of cancerous cells into nooks and crannies of the brain, doctors agreed.

However, Kennedy, 76, has a chance of extending his life with chemotherapy -- the preferred drug is a pill with few side-effects -- and radiation.

"A diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor can be one of the most terrifying diagnoses that patients or their loved ones can hear," said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Kennedy suffered a seizure on Saturday and has been undergoing tests in the hospital ever since. A biopsy -- a little sample of brain tissue -- confirmed a malignant glioma.

"Glioma is not a specific type of cancer. It is a general category of brain tumor that includes astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas. About 42 percent of all brain tumors, including benign ones, are gliomas," the American Cancer Society said in a statement.

But several neuro-oncologists said if the tumor is malignant, it is very likely to be one of two types -- an anaplastic astrocytoma or a glioblastoma multiforme.

"Anaplastic astrocytoma is a better prognosis," said Dr. Lynne Taylor, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Neurology and a neuro-oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. Continued...

 

[3113]

I knew someone who died of this It's scary fast.

I know the Kennedy family has been fraught with tragedy, but I think, this time, we can rule out that kind of curse. Not that anyone should die of such a thing, but this isn't the same as being shot or dying in a plane crash, suddenly, unexpectedly, and at the fairly youthful height of a career. Nor will he be leaving behind young children who now must be raised without their dad. E.K. had his career, and was at it for a good long time. He's 76 years old. He has five kids and however many grandkids, and was a surrogate father to his brothers' children as well.

I think, crazy ups and downs included, that we can say he's lived a full life. It's very sad, and I feel for his family and friends, but it's not a tragedy.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Politically, I have no use for Senator Kennedy.

As a human being though, this is very sad news. I wouldn't wish it on anyone regardless of their politics.

Best wishes to you and your family Senator.

 

[Guest]

I knew someone who died of this It's scary fast.

I know the Kennedy family has been fraught with tragedy, but I think, this time, we can rule out that kind of curse. Not that anyone should die of such a thing, but this isn't the same as being shot or dying in a plane crash, suddenly, unexpectedly, and at the fairly youthful height of a career. Nor will he be leaving behind young children who now must be raised without their dad. E.K. had his career, and was at it for a good long time. He's 76 years old. He has five kids and however many grandkids, and was a surrogate father to his brothers' children as well.

I think, crazy ups and downs included, that we can say he's lived a full life. It's very sad, and I feel for his family and friends, but it's not a tragedy.

I agree with you, on the full life comment. That, at least, is a positive.

But this is scary fast, and that's pretty traumatic for friends and family. There's no time to cope, no time to prepare.

Edited to add: If he does have glioblastoma multiforme he'll probably be gone by September. This is what killed my brother, and in less time than that.

 

[shereads]

from Chicago Tribune online (excerpt):

"This is the most consequential legislative career in the country's history," said Thomas Oliphant, who chronicled Kennedy's career as a correspondent and columnist for The Boston Globe. "It probably had more impact on more people than many presidents. What's so remarkable about it is not only that it's been so consequential, but it's been that way for so long."

Kennedy arrived in the Senate at a time when lawmakers of both parties worked together and socialized together, forming bonds of friendship that sometimes allowed them to overcome partisan differences.

"Except for a couple minimum wage increases, there isn't a single legislative accomplishment of his that was done without the help of a Republican partner," said Adam Clymer, Kennedy's biographer.

Any number of laws bear his name. With former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.), Kennedy passed legislation to require that health insurance be portable for workers who move from one employer to another. With Sen. Orrin Hatch (R- Utah), Kennedy helped to create the SCHIP program, providing health coverage to children from low-income families.

With former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.), Kennedy helped to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Civil Rights Restoration Act, which requires recipients of federal funds to comply with civil rights laws.

Kennedy also has been a force in foreign affairs. He led the effort to impose sanctions on South Africa for its apartheid system. He was responsible for getting the Senate to cut off arms sales to Augusto Pinochet, the repressive president of Chile. And he pressed hard for peace in Northern Ireland.

On the Senate floor, Kennedy is known for his lengthy and voluble stem-winders, with his ruddy face getting redder by the minute and his voice thundering through the chamber.

Even while many Republicans were personally friendly with him, they have benefited from his larger-than-life presence, raising millions of dollars with fundraising letters urging people to help fight the liberal giant.

His colleagues say he has always carried a heavier legislative load than any other senator. And he has done so often stooped over and wracked with pain, due to a 1964 plane crash that broke his back.

"Everyone I know just marvels at his strength," Durbin said. "Any other person would have been classified as a disabled person and unable to work after the injuries he sustained. He's never complained, but I've seen the pain on his face. He soldiers on without a word of complaint."

 

[Carnevil9]

First and foremost, my sympathies go out to the Senator and his family. I wouldn't want to wish an illness like this on anyone, however misguided they are politically. And besides, he is breaking new ground: the first Kennedy in two generations to die of natural causes!

That being said, and with all due respect, this is a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY for Uncle Teddy and his Socialist Agenda. All he has to do is go to CANADA or maybe CUBA to get treated, rather than using the backward US medical establishment, to show how wonderful the new Socialist Universal Health Care System will be, that his party is bending over backwards to endorse for all Americans.

Whaddya all think? Will he do it? Will he live up to his principles and go to some socialist country for government-sponsored care, waiting in line for weeks and even months to show his solidarity with the regular folk? Thereby showing how truly and deeply he believes in the causes of universal health care? Or will he be a hypocrite and avail himself of US elitist-care? I have no doubt that a man of his principles and convictions will certainly do the right thing.......Carney

 

[Edward Teach]

No. I'm a vile human being who's dancing a jig around the house.

You've obviously never seen anyone die from a brain tumor, especially anyone close to you or you wouldn't think such things, let alone say them.

I had a very close aunt and a brother die with brain tumors and I'll never forget holding their hands while they had seizures and convulsions. It was terrible.

You're a piece of shit, Johnson. A sorry piece of shit.