JFK Was Given His Last Rites Five Times Throughout His Life – Find Out Why
John F. Kennedy is remembered as the 35th President of the United States, whose life was cut short following his assassination in 1963. However, what is less known is the several health complications he suffered from throughout his short life. Some of these illnesses became so severe that Kennedy was administered his last rites a total of five times. In four cases, he was able to overcome and recover, rendering the last rites unnecessary.
He was a very sick child
Kennedy was born as the second of nine children to very wealthy parents. With the prestige of his family name, it seemed he was destined for success early on in his life. However, he suffered from serious health complications as a child, with his first severe illness hitting him at the young age of just two years old.
He almost died from scarlet fever
Kennedy contracted scarlet fever, a bacterial disease that can, in some cases, become deadly. His case was pretty serious, having been treated in a hospital, and his parents were so worried that he might not make it through that they called for a priest to deliver his last rites should he succumb to the fever.
It left him vulnerable
Ultimately, Kennedy recovered from his illness, but it left its mark on his health throughout his life. He became vulnerable to several other ailments, suffering from urinary tract infections, prostatitis, and digestive issues. In fact, as historian Barbara A. Perry explained, the Kennedy family had the running joke that “if a mosquito bit Jack Kennedy, the mosquito would die, because apparently there was something in poor Jack Kennedy’s bloodstream.”
Sick after service
Kennedy experienced much in his young life, including having enlisted in the US Navy to help fight in the Second World War. After leaving the Navy, it was clear that he was unwell. His skin had taken on a sickly color, and he had begun to suffer from severe back pain.
Illness in the UK
While visiting the UK, Kennedy began to develop new symptoms that proved to be very dangerous. In 1947, he was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, which is an adrenal insufficiency that can be fatal if left alone. To treat the disease, he was given adrenal implants, as oral cortisone was not yet available.
Things became severe
Traveling back home, Kennedy’s condition became serious indeed. A priest was once again called to administer his last rites, but thankfully, it was not necessary. He was able to recover and, with the advent of oral cortisone in 1950, was able to treat his disease.
Taking a tour of Asia with his brother
Later, in 1951, Kennedy hit the road with his brother, Robert, on a tour of Asia. The pair visited various countries, including India and Vietnam, before they capped off their trip in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Kennedy became sick once again, and this time, his health hit a new low.
He fell into a coma in Tokyo
While in Tokyo, complications with Addison’s disease caused Kennedy to fall severely ill. In fact, it actually came dangerously close to killing him, putting him into a coma after his temperature reached about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. He was given his last rites before Robert was able to determine a way to have his brother moved to a US military base in Okinawa, where he was effectively treated. “They didn’t think he could possibly live,” Robert once recalled. However, Kennedy was able to recover, and the experience bonded the brothers.
Complications after surgery
In 1954, Kennedy would undergo surgery to insert a metal plate in his spine to try and address the chronic back pain he had suffered practically all his life. Prior to this, Kennedy used back braces and crutches as a means to alleviate some of the pain he was dealing with. As with any surgery, it did not come without its risks, but given he had Addison’s disease, Kennedy was especially vulnerable to complications.
Sent into another coma
Unfortunately, complications did arise shortly after his surgery. The wound developed a staph bacteria infection, and he contracted a urinary tract infection, issues that would throw him into another coma just three years after his first. Once again, a priest delivered Kennedy his last rites, but in the end, he was able to recover. Slowly, he was able to rebuild his strength, and his health was restored.
His shocking assassination
In 1963, Kennedy received his last rites for the final time. After his shocking assassination during his open-air car ride in Dallas, Texas, he was rushed to Parkland Hospital for emergency treatment. His injuries included a shot through his shoulder, wrist, and thigh, as well as a shot through the back of his head.
JFK’s final last rites
Despite treatment, things looked dire, and Parkland Parish priest Oscar L. Huber rushed to Kennedy to deliver his last rites. He recalled the event, saying, “I was taken to the emergency room where I found the President lying on an emergency table; he was covered with a sheet. I walked past Mrs. Kennedy, who was standing beside him and I immediately gave him conditional absolution and conditional extreme unction. This was followed by the last blessing and various prayers that are read for one who is dying and, also, prayers after death. Shortly after this, I left the emergency room.”
Kennedy was just 46 years old when he died, but his impact as President and his tragic death remain part of his lasting legacy.
