JFK sister Eunice Shriver in critical condition

In this story: Husband lost VP bid in 1972 Many years of public service Presidential Medal of Freedom RELATED STORIES, SITES

BALTIMORE, Maryland (CNN) -- Eunice Kennedy Shriver -- founder of the Special Olympics for the mentally retarded and sister of assassinated U.S. President John F. Kennedy -- is in critical condition at a Baltimore hospital with a postoperative infection, her family said Friday.

Shriver, 79, had a benign pancreatic tumor removed October 12 and doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital predicted a full recovery. She was released October 21.

But Shriver was readmitted Monday after complaining of pain. Doctors discovered a postoperative infection and operated Tuesday night to stem that infection, according to a statement by her son, Maryland state lawmaker Mark Shriver.

"Her husband, her children are with her and ask for everybody's prayers," the statement said.

At the time of the October 12 surgery, Shriver's doctor, James Cameron, said the five-hour operation was "very successful" and he expected her to make a full recovery.

Husband lost VP bid in 1972

Shriver is the fifth of nine children born to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., who used his wealth and influence to found one of America's enduring political dynasties.

Two of her brothers were assassinated: John was shot in 1963 in the third year of his presidency and Robert was shot in 1968 while campaigning as a Democratic presidential candidate. A third brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, ran unsuccessfully for his party's presidential nomination in 1980.

Her siblings also include former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith, Patricia Kennedy Lawford and Rosemary Kennedy, who is mentally retarded. Her eldest brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, died in World War II.

Her husband, Sargent Shriver, 84, was Sen. George McGovern's vice presidential running mate in the unsuccessful 1972 Democratic campaign against Republican President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew.

He also was a director and co-founder of the Peace Corps, head of the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity under President Lyndon Johnson, and U.S. ambassador to France.

Many years of public service

Eunice Shriver's career in public service has spanned 50 years, beginning with projects to improve the lot of female prisoners and abandoned children in the mid-1940s.

But her life's work has focused on helping people with mental disabilities. In 1961, early in her brother's administration, she helped establish the Presidential Committee on Mental Retardation.

Her most widely known project has been the Special Olympics, which she helped institute in 1968 as the first systematic program to provide athletic training and competition for mentally retarded children and adults.

She remains honorary chairman of the organization.

Millions of people in 130 countries compete in more than 15,000 Special Olympics games, meets and tournaments each year.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

She also heads the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation, which funds Catholic organizations and institutions for the mentally handicapped.

In 1981, she established Community of Caring, a program that works to reduce teen-age pregnancy rates.

President Ronald Reagan in 1984 awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, for her work with the mentally disabled.

In addition to Mark Shriver, she is mother to Robert Shriver, an investor and film producer, Special Olympics head Timothy Shriver, mental retardation activist Anthony Shriver and television reporter Maria Shriver, who is married to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

CNN Correspondent Chris Black and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Eunice Kennedy Shriver

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