Kennedy children take guardianship of mother(Joan)

The children of Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy have taken legal guardianship of their mother, Joan B. Kennedy, to ensure she receives treatment for her alcoholism, her son U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy said Thursday.

''My brother, sister and I love our mother very much. She has done so much for us throughout our lives and we will take whatever steps necessary to ensure she gets the medical treatment and care she needs and deserves,'' Patrick Kennedy said in a statement.

A spokesman for Patrick Kennedy said the siblings were awarded guardianship last spring. The spokesman said media inquiries about the decision led the family to release the statement.

Joan Kennedy, 68, has worked as an advocate for the mentally retarded and for cancer research, living in Boston and Hyannis Port after her divorce from Edward Kennedy in 1982. His office declined comment on Thursday.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kenn25.html