In 1941, 23-year-old Rosemary Kennedy, sister of future president John F. Kennedy, underwent an experimental lobotomy. Doctors assured her family it would calm her mood swings and outbursts. Instead, it left her permanently impaired—unable to walk, speak clearly, or live independently.
The damage was so severe that her condition was kept hidden for decades, mentioned only in hushed tones. Behind the public image of the Kennedy family, Rosemary lived a life of quiet seclusion.
Yet her story had a lasting impact. Her sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was deeply moved by Rosemary’s struggles. Determined to make a better world for people with intellectual disabilities, Eunice founded the Special Olympics—a movement that has touched millions of lives.
Although Rosemary’s life was marked by tragedy, her legacy continues as a powerful force for compassion, awareness, and change.