Special Olympics Founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver in Critical Condition Cape Cod Hospital

The champion of special needs individuals hospitalized in critical condition.

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

88 year old Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of the late President John F. Kennedy and founder of the Special Olympics, was hospitalized on Friday in critical condition. Family members, including her daughter Maria Shriver and husband California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, flew into Cape Cod, Mass to be at Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s bedside. She is reported to be in critical but stable condition at a Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

“Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.” –Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Eunice Kennedy Shriver is the founder and honorary chairwoman of the Special Olympics. All politics aside, Eunice Kennedy Shriver is a personal hero of mine. Her tireless work with special needs children and individuals with intellectual disabilities is to be applauded. Any one who has ever taken part in Special Olympics in any capacity knows just what an amazing and reward life altering experience it is. To be a volunteer for Special Olympics one would never look at the Olympics in the same manner ever again

Shriver is renowned in her own right as the founder and honorary chairwoman of the Special Olympics, which helps 3 million people with intellectual disabilities in nearly 200 countries around the world.

Go to Special Olympics.org and learn more about this truly great organization

From the Cape Cod Times:

The entire Shriver family has gathered around the ailing matriarch, including her Alzheimer’s stricken husband Sargent Shriver, her grandchildren and all her children, including Maria Shriver and her husband California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“The family is grateful for the prayers of her many friends,” said Kirsten Suto Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics in Washington, D.C. “We are with the family at this time in our hearts,” she said by phone.

Shriver has been in the Hyannis hospital for about a week, said Cape Cod Hospital spokeswoman Robin Lord.