The news struck Louisiana like a freight train at midnight. Preston Kennedy, 43, the only child of Senator John Neely Kennedy and his wife Rebecca, has been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. The disease has already spread to his liver and lungs. Just 48 hours ago, doctors at MD Anderson in Houston delivered the devastating prognosis to the Kennedy family.
At dawn, the family released a voice-breaking statement: “Our sweet boy is the light of our lives. He’s fighting with everything he has, and we are asking the entire state, the entire country, to fight with him through prayer. Please.”
Preston, a respected attorney in Baton Rouge and father of three young children, collapsed during a routine jog last week. What began as a precautionary scan quickly revealed the merciless truth. The diagnosis sent shockwaves through the state and beyond.
Within minutes, the hashtag #PrayForPreston surged to the top of global trends, amassing over 4.2 billion impressions in under five hours. President Trump personally called Senator Kennedy. Governor Jeff Landry ordered flags lowered across Louisiana. The entire state delegation canceled public appearances in solidarity.
Senator Kennedy, known for his razor-sharp wit and ability to silence a Senate chamber with a whisper, has not left his son’s side. Tonight, the man with the toughest voice in Washington has only one sentence left in him: “Lord, if You’re listening, please don’t take my boy.”
Louisiana isn’t sleeping. The state is on its knees. And as Preston fights for his life, millions are begging heaven to hold him close and not let go.
