( CNN ) -- Kara Kennedy , daughter of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , died of a heart attack on Friday , a family aide told CNN Saturday . She was 51 . Kennedy suffered the attack following her daily workout , according to a statement from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate . She was the only daughter of Sen. Kennedy , a liberal stalwart who passed away in 2009 . That year , Kara Kennedy accepted a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on behalf of her ailing father . In 2003 , she was diagnosed with lung cancer but overcame the disease . `` Kara was a warm and caring person . Her children were the light and joy of her life , '' the statement from the institute said . `` Her magnificent strength in her successful battle with lung cancer was a quiet inspiration to all of us and provided her family and fellow patients with hope . '' Kara Kennedy was a filmmaker and television producer , according to the institute . She also served on the National Advisory Board of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and as a director emerita and national trustee of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation . She had recently co-produced a film for the institute that was shown at its inaugural gala and groundbreaking event . She is survived by her children Grace and Max , her mother Joan , her brothers Ted Jr. and Patrick , as well as her stepmother Victoria Reggie Kennedy and stepsiblings Curran and Caroline Raclin . CNN 's Jamie Gray contributed to this report .
Kara Kennedy was the only daughter of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy . She suffered a heart attack after her workout Friday . She was married , a filmmaker and film producer .