The Unlucky Lives of the Kennedy Family

After the lobotomy, Rosemary was sent to live in an institution in Wisconsin, far from the public eye. For years, few outside the family even knew she was alive. Her siblings grew into public figures, while she lived quietly under the care of nuns and medical staff.

Her mother, Rose, didn’t visit for more than two decades, too heartbroken to face what had happened. It wasn’t until the 1960s that her siblings reconnected with her. The tragedy later inspired Eunice Kennedy Shriver to champion the rights of people with disabilities, leading to the creation of the Special Olympics.