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Doctor Says Sen. Kennedy 'Not In Immediate Danger'

Kennedy Expected To Stay in Hospital For Couple Of Days

POSTED: 11:08 am EDT May 17, 2008
UPDATED: 10:12 pm EDT May 17, 2008

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was flown to a hospital Saturday morning after suffering a seizure at his home, but was "not in immediate" danger Saturday evening, according to his primary physician.

Kennedy's spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Kennedy was "conscious, talking, joking with family" at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was doing well enough that he watched the Red Sox game with his family and asked for a seafood dinner delivered from Boston's Legal Sea Foods restaurant.

"Over the next couple of days, Senator Kennedy will undergo further evaluation to determine the cause of the seizure, and a course of treatment will be determined at that time,” said Dr. Larry Ronan.

Kennedy was first rushed to Cape Cod Hospital Saturday morning, but after discussions with his doctors, the decision was made to transport him by helicopter to Boston, the senator's office said.

A statement from Kennedy’s office said he was "undergoing a battery of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure," but that he was "resting comfortably."

Hyannis Fire Lt. Bill Rex said a 911 call came in from the Kennedy family compound at 8:19 a.m. A man was transported to Cape Cod Hospital and transferred by air at 10:10 a.m. from Barnstable Municipal Airport to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Kennedy stayed at Cape Cod Hospital for about an hour before being transported, a hospital spokesman said.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts did not talk to reporters when he arrived at the hospital shortly after 1 p.m., or when he left about an hour later.

Kerry's office issued a statement that called Kennedy a "fighter who has overcome adversity again and again with courage, grit, and determination."

In October, Kennedy had surgery to repair a nearly complete blockage in a major neck artery. The discovery was made during a routine examination of a decades-old back injury.

The hourlong procedure on his left carotid artery - a main supplier of blood to the face and brain - was performed at Massachusetts General. This type of operation is performed on more than 180,000 people a year to prevent a stroke.

The doctor who operated on Kennedy said at the time that surgery is reserved for those with more than 70 percent blockage, and Kennedy had "a very high-grade blockage."

He was preparing to host the annual Best Buddies Challenge event on Saturday afternoon, a fundraiser for the Best Buddies organization to help people with intellectual disabilities.

Kennedy, 76, has been in the Senate since election in 1962.

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