The signs are not good for the ailing Senator Edward Kennedy, who failed to attend the White House ceremony where he was due to receive the American Medal of Freedom and, more poignantly, his sister Eunice’s funeral last week.

There is simply no way Teddy would have failed to attend Eunice’s funeral unless he was feeling in pretty bad shape. The two were very close and she was often considered his favorite sister.

It seems the brain cancer that the senator has drained his strength to the point where family and friends now fear the worst.

“They know its incurable but somehow because it was Teddy who battled and won over so much adversity they thought he could beat it,” said a family friend. ”Now I think they are starting to believe otherwise.”

The senator has certainly fought the good fight and would obviously love to have a health care bill passed while he is still around.

Time may be running out for the scion of the Kennedy clan, which would leave only Jean Kennedy Smith, the former ambassador to Ireland.