PRESIDENT & MRS. KENNEDY'S SON BORN 5 1/2 WEEKS PREMATURE
Bourne, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On August 7, 1963, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy*, son of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, was born in the early afternoon at Otis Air Force Base.
The baby boy, delivered five and one-half weeks premature, suffers from respiratory complications common with early births. His weight was only 4 pounds 10.5 ounces.
He was transferred in the evening to Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston where he was placed in a hyperbaric chamber of 100% pure oxygen.
JFK+50 NOTE
Sadly, Patrick, named after his great great grandfather, died after only 39 hours of life. The cause of death was given as Hyaline Membrane Disease which now is known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Patrick's case was the impetus for further research into the condition.
Ironically, Patrick's date of death was exactly 20 years since his father & surviving crew of the PT109 was rescued.
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, now resting beside his father & mother at Arlington, was the 1st child born to a sitting POTUS in the 20th century.
*Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (Aug 7-Aug 9, 1963) was born at Otis AF Base, Massachusetts & died in Boston. PBK was buried in the Kennedy family plot in Boston & later the remains were transferred to ANC after the death of his father.
SOURCES
"August 7, 1963," JFK+50, August 7, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/
"Patrick Bouvier Kennedy," Wikipedia, www.wikipedia.org/
