13. Arabella and Patrick Kennedy
Did you know that JFK and his wife Jackie experienced not only one, but two unfortunate pregnancies? In 1956, Jackie went into labor to deliver another sweet, innocent child. John and Jackie were stunned with shock to find that their daughter was stillborn. Arabella Kennedy, born and died on August 23, 1956.
Years later in 1963, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy were expecting another child. This one entered the world over a month ahead of schedule. From his first breath, Patrick Kennedy struggled to survive. Patrick was born with hyaline membrane disease, the leading cause of premature babies. Back in 1963, if a baby with hyaline membrane disease survived the first 48 hours, their survival chance was only 40%-50%. Medical professionals at the time had very little options for treating the disease back then, except place the baby in a heat-controlled incubator and provide the child lots of attention. Many Americans waited patiently by the radios to hear the progress on the President’s baby. However, their worst fear became reality when Patrick failed to inhale enough air. At only 39 hours old, Patrick Kennedy passed away. Jackie Kennedy missed the funeral of her son, as she was not well enough to attend. Some believe the death of Patrick brought John and Jackie closer together, although it’s hard to say because three short months later, JFK was assassinated.