SENATOR Edward M. Kennedy's physicians have made their diagnosis, and it is not good - a malignant brain tumor. The senator can take heart in the knowledge that he is being treated at one of the greatest healthcare institutions in the country. He is comforted by his family close by his hospital bed, but he also has a larger, national family, and wishes for his recovery extend far beyond his home state.
That Massachusetts General Hospital is a world-class medical center is in no small measure due to Kennedy's own dogged leadership on healthcare over the years, beginning with his vote for Medicare in 1965. Today, top-notch care is routinely available to people living near MGH and the other major academic medical centers. Kennedy's abiding aim has been to extend high-quality care to all Americans.
His illness has stirred expressions of concern from leaders of both parties - no surprise since he has repeatedly reached across the Senate aisle to Republicans to achieve consensus on legislation. What's notable is the outpouring of affection from hundreds of ordinary Americans, as posted on boston.com and nytimes.com just hours after the diagnosis was made public yesterday.
"The word 'hero' gets tossed around too much in America, but to me, this is a pretty heroic man. May he be surrounded by warmth and love," wrote CJM, from San Carlos, Calif. "Ted's one of a kind - he's irreplaceable," Nancy M. Hanley posted from Durham, N.C.
"Sen. Kennedy & his son took time out of politicking through Indiana in 1980 to bring cheer to my terminally ill 16-year-old nephew who had osteogenic sarcoma (as had Kennedy's son)," a Hoosier remembered.
And Dave in San Francisco wrote what we can only echo: "We hope to hear the Liberal Lion roar again soon in the Senate. We wish you a speedy recovery; your work is not done."
