What You Never Knew About Jackie And John F. Kennedy's Marriage

Patrick Kennedy's death on August 7, 1963, struck a terrible blow to Jackie and John F. Kennedy. However, it helped to usher in a warmer, more connected period in the couple's marriage (short-lived as it was, given that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963), according to Vanity Fair. It also raised awareness of the most common cause of death in newborns at the time, per The New York Times.

When a baby is born premature, low birth weight can be an issue, but that was not the case for Patrick Kennedy, who weighed in at over 4 pounds. However, at nearly six weeks premature, Patrick's lungs were not able to produce enough of a substance called surfactant, which helps keep the lung's air sacs (alveoli) open, according to Boston Children's Hospital. When the alveoli collapse, the damaged cells — known as hyaline membranes — collect in the airways, making breathing even more difficult.

Survival of hyaline membrane disease — or respiratory distress syndrome, as it is now known — requires ventilated breathing assistance, but that was not understood at the time of Patrick's birth, according to ABC News. The circumstances of Patrick's death helped catalyze the development of the neonatal intensive care unit and the study of neonatology. Today, a vast majority of babies born with the condition survive.