By GottaLaff









As a personal [beneficiary] of Senator Kennedy, I'd like to add a short true story. Back when I was a kid, perhaps 12, my younger brother was diagnosed with a mental disability. The school system would no longer admit my 9 year old brother and he had to be sent to a private institution which was way beyond my parents means.



One Thursday evening the phone rang at dinner time and I was the one who was closest and answered it. To my great surprise, the man on the other end said he was Senator Ted Kennedy and he wanted to speak to my father.



My dad got on the phone. A few minutes later after a one sided conversation by the Senator, my father ended the call with "Thank you so much." Tears ran down my father's face.



The senator had gotten a letter from my mom telling him how awful it was that our state of Massachusetts no longer helped the handicapped. He read the letter and called to say he personally would pay for my brother's stay and education at a private institution.



My brother, and the rest of the family were saved by this great man. He had compassion. He had his demons as well. But for America, he was a hero. With great sorrow I brave his passing. Thank you Senator Ted. For me. My family. For the country.



I still remember my dad with all those tears telling us that our family would be better off because a stranger wanted to be of help. I'll never forget that either. I'm proud to have been a recipient of his great philanthropic efforts.



Oh, and he never asked for anything in return... not a vote, not a payment... just for my brother to have a chance. And he took advantage of that.

One of our readers, David G., is a personal friend and a TPC reader. He left these comments on a post down thread, and I felt compelled to pass them along. David graciously consented:Thank you so, so much for sharing that wonderful, touching moment, David. Special doesn't even begin to describe it, or Senator Kennedy.