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The Spectacle Blog
Putting aside politics for a moment, I hope we can send our collective thoughts and prayers to the Santorum family.
Rick Santorum’s 3 ½ year old daughter, Isabella, is seriously ill — she suffers from the genetic disorder Trisomy 18, also known as “Edwards Syndrome.” I understand very little about the malady, but it’s caused by a chromosomal anomaly and she exists “on the margins of life.”
Santorum has been incredibly candid about young Bella’s illness, but his decision to temporarily suspend his campaign in Florida speaks to the gravity of her condition. She’s been admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment — arguably the best pediatric hospital in the country, and I’m not just saying that because I was born there.
Like I said, I don’t know bupkis about extra chromosomes or autosomal disorders, but I know this little girl has already put up one heck of a fight. The median lifespan for this condition is 5-15 days, and only 8% of infants born with this syndrome live to see their first birthday. One percent of children make it to ten years old, but that small percentage who survive birth and infancy often live to adulthood. Fingers crossed for the latter.
I don’t have kids, and I can’t begin to imagine how difficult this must be for the Santorum family. All I know is, I hope this little girl gets better, and soon.
View all comments (36) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Reid Smith
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/29/a-prayer-for-isabella
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Mimi| 1.29.12 @ 2:15PM
God in his mercy protect this innocent child...and give her family strength and courage...our prayer goes out to the Santorum family and Bella!
Margie| 1.29.12 @ 4:49PM
Amen.
RJ| 1.29.12 @ 2:24PM
My heart goes out to the Santorum family. It is a reminder that many people face challenges that you don't know about. During the last debate, when the candidates were asked why their wife would be the best first lady, Wolf Biltzer mentioned that Mrs. Santorum was not present. Mr. Santorum said she was doing what she does best, being with her children. I am sure that the love and support of her parents and siblings have aided Isabella in her fight for life. May God bless Isabella.
Your Excellency| 1.29.12 @ 2:34PM
The Santorums have been through quite a bit in their lives . May the peace and love of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them.
Clint| 1.29.12 @ 3:06PM
I Know CHoP Well & Their Staff Is A-1.
Santorum's Little Girl Is In Good Hands & Prayers Will Help Them To Help Her.
Bill| 1.29.12 @ 3:38PM
Santorum should have dropped out from the race and endorsed Gingrich, and that will help Gingrich dismantle Romney "New England big government RINO."
Kingofthenet| 1.29.12 @ 4:13PM
Cain just got behind Gingrich so is Palin and Perry, now if Rick just did the right thing for his family, we could have a REAL competitor to Mittens.
albert constantine jr.| 1.29.12 @ 4:59PM
When I was a kid in school at the beginning of June of 1968, the nuns asked us to write about our feelings about the death of Bobby Kennedy. I wrote that now it would likely be Humphrey who has to run against either Nixon or (Mitt’s father George) Romney. For decades, I couldn’t fathom why the good sisters were upset with my response. Reading your response to Reid Smith’s (no shill for Santorum) apolitical notice, I have a sense of what they thought my reaction was lacking.
Kingofthenet| 1.29.12 @ 6:13PM
It because MOST Nun's are RINO's.
albert constantine jr.| 1.29.12 @ 7:36PM
"It because MOST Nun's are RINO's"
I would have deserved the yardstick across the knuckles based on the repetitive and consistent misuse of the contractions or possessive that the above sentence displays. The lack of contrition, on the other hand, would have merited more of an eternal punishment.
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:41PM
Trisomy 18 is a genetic condition that is incompatible with life, usually. Only 5-10 % live past the 1st year. That she has lived this long is a miracle. My prayers for the Santorum family. The reference below is for Mr. Smith's use for reference, should he wish more data.
For more data: Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation, 6th Edition, pages 13-17.
Reid Smith| 1.29.12 @ 8:44PM
Thank you.
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:49PM
Yes, Reid, you are welcome. I occasionally have to deal with "syndrome" adults as a State Psychiatrist, and it is useful to know when they have to be sent off for chomosome testing to figure out what we have. This is an excellent reference for that purpose, and I have made sure my nurses know about it so that they can go through the pages when someone unusual comes in.
albert constantine jr.| 1.29.12 @ 4:59PM
I pray that God shows his mercy and love to the Santorum family in this hour of need.
Ward Bond| 1.29.12 @ 5:08PM
I also pray for this little girl and her good and decent family.
Clint| 1.29.12 @ 6:06PM
Santorum's Bella Is Off The Ventilator And Breathing On Her Own.
Prayers Are Helping The Staff To Help Her.
Kingofthenet| 1.29.12 @ 6:14PM
Yes, it's the Prayers, but sad to say all my prayers to regrow some limbs for our wounded vets is showing no promise.
W| 1.29.12 @ 7:04PM
King
Maybe you should pray for understanding to lose your snarky attitude. Or you could pray for more intelligence.
Margie| 1.29.12 @ 7:22PM
Ugh. Look who talks~ the disgusting freak himself.
W| 1.29.12 @ 7:54PM
The Mad MullahMargie is upset today.
Coming froma parasite like you, even King seems reasonable.
Go play with you snakes, Mullah. Nobody wants to talk to you. We are discussing something important, the health of a child, so take your disgusting anti Catholic drivel to your fellow parasite.
Margie| 1.29.12 @ 9:51PM
Go mutilate yourself, scumbag.Gal. 5:12.
W| 1.29.12 @ 11:20PM
MullahMargie,
Sounds like you have experience with self mutilation.
Buzz off, parasite.
Margie| 1.29.12 @ 9:57PM
What anti-Catholic drivel, asshole?
I'm praying for the Santorum duaghter and family, you filthy creep.
W| 1.29.12 @ 11:18PM
MullahMargie
That is the spirit,you are a worthless white trash.
Get lost, Go play with your snakes.
Margie| 1.30.12 @ 5:28PM
Like I said, anti-Christ:
Go mutilate yourself.
Gal. 5:12.
W| 1.30.12 @ 7:12PM
MullahMargie
Go play with your snakes.
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:42PM
King: Clint is absolutely right on this one. Grow up, son.
Clint| 1.29.12 @ 6:37PM
Say That To Our Wounded Vets Faces And Then We Can Pray That You Get Off The Ventalator, Kindofanut.
Rob| 1.29.12 @ 7:25PM
God bless little Isabella and all the Santorum family.
Kingofthenet| 1.29.12 @ 7:45PM
I don't mean for this to sound unsympathetic, but what exactly is everyone praying for? That this child who has ZERO chance of a normal life, gets thru this just to suffer more?
Mimi| 1.29.12 @ 8:06PM
Puleese....We are all pro-life..We don't think like that!
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:45PM
King: you have no idea what type of pleasure some of these people get from their existence. Or the fun you can have in caring for them, as I have, when I worked with mentally disabled adults in Alabama helping their lives improve. One day, you will grow up. Life, to adults, tends to be mostly shades of gray.
Margie| 1.29.12 @ 9:53PM
Because God values human life, and it's His Will, that's why.
William Hemenwy| 1.29.12 @ 8:47PM
This is not the time for political views May God protect the Santorum family and ease any pain that little girl might be going through
Occam's Tool| 1.29.12 @ 8:49PM
Indeed, William. Sheesh.
Bob K.| 1.29.12 @ 10:59PM
Amen, William.