4. Kara Kennedy
Kara Kennedy, daughter of Ted Kennedy, was a fighter. As a child, her brother Ted Kennedy lost his leg to cancer, and many years later her father also battled cancer. Unfortunately, cancer in the family didn’t end there. At the age of 42, Kara was diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctors were unable to perform surgery and predicted only a few months of life left. However, as with his son Ted Jr., Ted Sr did not give up. He searched for the best doctor for his daughter. The search ended with success, as he found a doctor who was able to remove part of the lung. As a Catholic family, Ted prayed for his daughter daily. Kara officially entered remission five years later.
Kara was an avid runner and swimmer, allowing her to be physically fit. When she entered remission, she was running at least five miles per day. As a result, after surviving cancer, she was overall healthy, which is why her death was unsettling. At the age of 51, Kara passed away of a heart attack while working out at her gym. Although the cause of heart attack is unknown, her brother, Patrick Kennedy, relates it to her cancer treatment.