Aug 7, 2009 4:11pm
Eunice Kennedy Shriver in Critical Condition
EmailABC News' Huma Khan reports: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of former President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., is in critical condition at a Massachusetts hospital.
A family spokesperson said Shriver is surrounded by her family at Cape Cod Hospital, according to The Associated Press.
Shriver, 88, helped establish the Special Olympics 41 years ago and in 1984, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work.
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God Bless and keep her. I just lost my mom two weeks ago….it’s so hard no matter how old they are….
Posted by: Barb | August 7, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
My best to Mrs. Shriver and to all the Kennedys. They are American icons and her work with the special Olympics is extraordinary.
Posted by: LW | August 7, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
The Special Olympics. What a legacy!
Thank you Mrs Shriver.
Posted by: Kate | August 7, 2009, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
she was jfk’s favorite sister. she was the one of whom their father used to say that if she had been born a man, she would have become president, not jack.
but she doesn’t have to be remembered solely as the sister of a beloved president. as others have noted, her legacy is a lot bigger than that thanks to her creation of the special olympics a month after her brother bobby was murdered.
Posted by: chiku | August 7, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
My prayers are with this extraordinary woman that saw the need of the very needy and did something about it and with her family.The Special Olympics are a blessing to those most needy.Mrs Shriver’s place in Heaven is already reserved. May God be with you,Mrs. Eunice K. Shriver.
Posted by: Oscar in Miami Beach | August 7, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm
My prayers are with Mrs. Shriver and her family at this time. I remember how sad she was when Obama made fun of Special Olympics on David Letterman. UGH!
Posted by: dk | August 7, 2009, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
Mrs. Shriver saw kids who often don’t get a chance to succeed and created an event designed to give them a chance to succeed and to be successful. Kids who get to attend Special Olympics remember it the rest of their lives; ask any parent of a disabled child who got to go.
Thank you, Mrs. Shriver.
Posted by: jan | August 7, 2009, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Chiku, I’m sure JFK loved Eunice very much, but it was actually Kathleen (Kick) who was his favorite sister. They were much closer in age and were greatly close friends before she was killed in a plane crash in 1948.
Posted by: Kellybelle22 | August 7, 2009, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
Why is this news???
How many veterans who were wounded fighting for our country are also in “critical condition”?
What is really important? An 88 year old lady who is from a very rich, politically connected family, or an extraordinary American who fights for their country?
Posted by: Chris | August 7, 2009, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
I suppose Obama and his cronies will have her pulled off of life support any minute….. God Bless you Mrs. Shriver for all that you did for disabled people. Such a selfless woman.
Posted by: Sharon | August 7, 2009, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Chris—Not sure if you are just ignorant or rude…either way your statement belittling Ms. Shriver is out of line.
Posted by: cwg | August 7, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
I will always remember Eunice as the woman who never forgot Rosemary…even when the rest of the family had written her off. Eunice always made time for Rosemary. God Bless her!
Posted by: laurie | August 7, 2009, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm
What a wonderful woman … I hope she doesn’t suffer and is in God’s arms soon.
My heartfelt sympathy to Maria and her whole family in this sad time. Her legacy will live on forever.
Posted by: KimLnyc | August 7, 2009, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
Oh what a wonderfull woman. God Bless Eunice and God Bless America!
Posted by: Tyra Takahashi | August 7, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
Posted by: Darlene | August 8, 2009, 7:22 am 7:22 am
God Bless Eunice Kennedy Shriver for an excellent job for Special Olympic. My son has enjoyed the benefit of her and her husbands creation of Special Olympics. My prayers are with you and your family. Again God Bless your sweet spirit. Go in peace. God be with you til we meet again. Aunty Zee
Posted by: Aunty Zee | August 8, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am
My generation I grew up watching this family. My first tv viewing>?? Watching 4 days of country grief over President Kenndy’s death….God bless this family …….again! Everybody ..bow yr heads and say a prayer…God bless all of you.
Posted by: Kate | August 8, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
My prayers are even louder for the Kennedy family. They all had such a sense of “humanity” that only could be taught at Home.
Posted by: tychisum | August 8, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am
Kate, I find Obama’s healthcare plan extremely offensive. Actually Eunice was horrified when Obama dissed the Special Olympics on Letterman. As I said, God Bless this selfless woman. This IS an ABC news thread, I thought it appropriate to take the opportunity to tell people to go to the White House website and READ the healthcare plan in its entirety. Kate, I’m sure you have read it word for word since you are such a knowledgeable person.
Posted by: Sharon | August 8, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Good lord, “Sharon”…… Who do you think you are to accuse Obama of murder? You listen to Glenn Beck too much and don’t think enough.
Posted by: appalled | August 8, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
How is this national news?
Posted by: Suzy | August 8, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
I have to agree with Chris even if it is considered rude. Why is this news? Because she is a Kennedy? They are not royalty.
Posted by: kaii | August 8, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
Dear “appalled”, I have actually never listened to Glenn Beck. And I am appalled that you say I accuse Obama of murder. YOU should think before you post; go read the healthcare plan Obama is trying to pass, and THINK about it before you post again. BTW, “who do you think you are”, the answer is that I am a tax paying citizen and I WILL question wrondgoing no matter WHO the wrongdoer is. Obama is no different than you or I, puts his pants on one leg at a time, and he CAN be questioned.
Posted by: Sharon | August 8, 2009, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Alright already people, She is a Kennedy so let us look past that and look at the woman herself who dedicated herself to the Special Olympics program, now tell me she doesn’t deserve our thoughts and prayers. Mine are with her and her family.
Posted by: Denise | August 8, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Geez people! Give it a rest! This article is about Mrs. Shriver, not your political agenda! Go post your propaganda crap somewhere else! It has no purpose here. Nothing but a bunch of selfish crybabies!!!
Posted by: had it | August 8, 2009, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
Imagine the beauty of it – that moment when the soul of a loved one returns to the stars; the voices each whispering:
”I remember you.”
- Author unknown
Someone gave me this when my daughter died.
Posted by: jdskansas | August 8, 2009, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
NO ONE EXCEPT THE MEDIA “ELITISTS” CARES. FYI, NO ONE CARES!!!! THIS IS NOT NEWS!!!
Posted by: XJUG1987 | August 9, 2009, 8:28 am 8:28 am
will Eunice and Eddy accept the same health care as I would get under the proposal their candidate and party support. I think not and therefore its not for me either. And do not force it on me Chicago Thug Squad! If I don’t get the healthcare I WANT, that is the equal to the BUREAUCRATS THAT GET THEIRS FREE BECAUSE OF MY TAX DOLLARS THEN $CREW U!
Posted by: XJUG1987 | August 9, 2009, 8:39 am 8:39 am
She’s younger than that guy from West Virginia (Robert Byrd). Have they rolled him out of the chambers after the SotoMayor vote yet?
Posted by: LongT | August 9, 2009, 8:40 am 8:40 am
God bless this beautiful, selfless woman.
Posted by: KJM | August 10, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Dear Appalled. Maybe you should listen to Glenn Beck. Sharon is right on. Letterman seems to engage in bad remarks about others also along with Our new God – Obama. Maybe you should read the Great Healthcare change and learn something about our future and what a mess it is going to be. My deepest prayers go out to the real God for Mrs. Shriver and her family.
Posted by: ogie | August 10, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Why are there so few comments on her work on abortion and why does her remaining family suport the killing of the unborn especially those with defects that Ms. Shriver did so much to protect.
Posted by: PAUL S. MCGARRY | August 11, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
My deepest sympathy on the passing of your mother,wife,sister, and grandmother. We have lost a wonderful
person who have left a great legacy behind. May God Bless You All. Rest
In Peace Mrs. E. K. Shriver.
Posted by: Ann Williams | August 12, 2009, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
I have loved the Kennedy’s all my life. But of all the memebers of Joe and Rose Kennedy’s children, Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the best.
Her legacy will remain untouched by scandal for decades to come.
She should have been the Kennedy to be President.
Posted by: JP Patrick | August 20, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm