Kara Kennedy, the eldest daughter of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, passed away on September 16, 2011, at the age of 51. She died from a heart attack while working out at a gym in Washington, D.C. Her death was linked to the toll taken by aggressive cancer treatment she had undergone for lung cancer, which was diagnosed in 2002. The treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, had physically weakened her, and cardiologists have noted that her heart may have taken a "direct hit" from the cancer and treatment. She was known for her work as a television producer and for her dedication to various public causes, as well as for her role in preserving her family's legacy. Her death was a significant loss to her family and those who knew her.