[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SENATOR TED KENNEDY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I think it is also important to tell 
everyone Senator Kennedy is strong and well and happy. He had some 
minor surgery that was important surgery. A lot of people do not know 
Senator Kennedy was nearly killed in an airplane crash. His life was 
saved by Evan Bayh's father, Birch Bayh.
  He never complains, but Senator Kennedy has constant pain from his 
back. As a result of that, he had some work done to see what was going 
on with his back. They did a CAT scan of his full spine, which normally 
is not done because most of the trouble in his back is in the low back, 
not the high back. As a result of that, they fortuitously--with good 
fortune because of the high x-ray--checked and a carotid artery was 
plugged.
  It was very fortuitous that was done. His wife Jackie thinks that is 
a miracle, and it certainly is a blessing in their lives because as a 
result of taking a look at his spine, they were able to spot that and 
avoid some serious problems in the future.
  I cannot possibly overstate the importance of Senator Kennedy's 
leadership in this body as we address the critical issues that lie 
ahead in this work period. For 45 years he has been a person who has 
been on the cutting edge of doing the right thing for this country and 
certainly for the State of Massachusetts.

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