Meet Rick Santorum’s precious daughter Bella, “the center of our universe”
Presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s daughter Bella was born with Trisomy 18. Trisomy is similar to Down syndrome in that the former has three of the 18th chromosome and the latter has three of the 21st chromosome.
Many children with Trisomy 18 die within hours or days after birth. Many children with Trisomy 18 are aborted.
But Bella is now three years old and “the center of the universe for our family,” says Santorum in a touching new video about her. Get out the kleenex…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7LyoAEIskw&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]
Rick and Karen Santorum have seven surviving children. They lost son Gabriel in 1996, who was born prematurely at 20 weeks. He lived for two hours.
[Photo via LifeSiteNews.com]
Oct.29, 2011 7:10 am |
Eugenics |
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
WOW! I did not even know that the Santorum family had another child. How did I miss that?
What a beautiful testimony to LIFE. And if anybody can speak to life, and it’s value, and the reality of its existance even in the womb, it’s the Santorums.
I would love for him to be president…wonderful moral man…wonderful family
praying he get s more recognition and people learn more about him
God has sanctified this family to be a great testimony to others. May Bella live a long and happy life. LL <3
This is one man, the only candidate, who will never, ever, ever compromise or waver in his conviction that LIFE is sacred and must be protected! He and Karen are such incredible people, and they walk their talk every single day without fail. They are true, faithful, honest, and humble people. SANTORUM 2012
I have a friend who had a little girl named Zoe with Trimsomy. They had her for almost two years, and the lives that Zoe touched, changed, and led to the Lord are still being counted. God Bless the Santorums.
Though I guess Ex-GOP would call Bella a prop.
I call her God’s instrument.
Nope Courtnay – I don’t see it in this case. Enjoyed the video.
I got to see Santorum in Orlando when he was down for Presidency 5. Great-looking in person! And so approachable.
He had great things to say to our Tea party crowd.
Is this guy still running for president? Why even bother? Has he ever even hit 10% in a single primary poll, anywhere, ever?
What a beautiful clip!!
The fact is that both trisomy 13 and 18 are not universally “incompatible with life” as is commonly believed. How many women have induced early or given in to comfort care on the basis of the genetic label? Indeed, some children are tragically afflicted but there is a wide spectrum. Survival rates for these conditions have decreased over the past 50 years. Children with trisomy 13/18 have not benefited from medical advances as other children have despite the clear evidence that some can benefit from surgery.
Research on parental perspectives of having a child with trisomy 13/18 was presented recently at the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities. A large study revealed that regardless of longevity, the lives of these children were incredibly enriching to their families and the children who survived were described by all parents to be happy children.
It is about time that the truth is known about these conditions.
Here is a video made by the parents of many children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtY2TzfWZXk
He bothers, joan, because he is another voice for life.
Him and every other GOP candidate.
Say it loud, say it proud. All life is worth the person living it, even Bella’s, even Boaz’, and even the baby you aborted. So glad 2 of the 3 are living. Yours is missed, Joan.
What I’d give to see a Trig-and-Bella-together photo.
Absolute wailing and gnashing of teeth. HuffPo just wouldn’t know what to do.
What a precious kid! I don’t like Santorum, but I got to admit I have a tiny bit more respect for him now. I didn’t know he was the father of a special needs child. Great stuff, great family. Wish them the best.
Bella for President. Rick is just too dang scary.
How beautiful she is!
Joan,
I daresay most doctors wouldn’t have given Bella a 10% chance of living a year.
Sometimes the journey is as important as the destination.
Indeed, Hans, or vice-versa.
I’ve seen horrible “jokes” about Trig Palin from a couple of “comedians.” Think if he and/or Bella’s political candidate parent were Democrats, they, and Hollywood in general, would find it unthinkable to do that?
Not that everyone in Hollywood would do this I know, but I think it’s sickening to think that it’s tolerated at all.
I can’t get over how beautiful that top picture of the two of them is!
I had no idea that a child with Trisomy 18 could live beyond birth. Ten years ago I was half way through my pregnancy and a routine ultrasound showed some “soft markers” that indicated Trisomy 18. I declined a follow-up amnio because I didn’t want to take the slightest risk of a miscarriage. If my little guy’s days were numbered I wanted as many of them as I could get.
All of the research I did said that half of Trisomy 18 babies died before birth and the other half within hours or days afterwards. Like, maybe two days.
I could not fathom why most mothers in my situation would abort. If your baby is going to die, why hasten his death?? Why be the one to cause it? Why not cherish each day that you have together? If I wasn’t going to have to sacrifice my sleep during infancy or my patience during the “terrible twos” or my sanity during the teen years, this was my one chance to sacrifice for this child. I could carry him for as long as he still had life.
He made it the full 40 weeks and then we discovered that he did not have Trisomy 18 or any other “impairment”. He’s now about to turn 11 and is still our pride and joy. I can’t say that he’s brought us more joy than dear little Bella has brought the Santorums, though. May God continue to bless them abundantly. They handle each challenge with an amazing amount of grace and courage.
I could not fathom why most mothers in my situation would abort. If your baby is going to die, why hasten his death?? Why be the one to cause it? Why not cherish each day that you have together? If I wasn’t going to have to sacrifice my sleep during infancy or my patience during the “terrible twos” or my sanity during the teen years, this was my one chance to sacrifice for this child. I could carry him for as long as he still had life.
I guess they figure that they don’t want the child suffering, but isn’t being torn apart limb from limb suffering?
Can the organs from these babies be used for transplants if they do just live a few hours or days?
Children with trisomy 13 and 18 do not suffer. If they need treatment/surgery they receive analgesics and sedation like any child. In fact, these children are very happy.
Children with trisomy 13 and 18 are certainly NOT brain dead nor are they in a PVS. They learn, and progress, albeit slowly. These children teach compassion, empathy, the value of sacrifice and patience. I have yet to meet a parent that regretted that they did not choose abortion.
It is an extremely dangerous suggestion that these children should be born for the purpose of becoming organ donors.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for sharing your story!!
I read this and thought of you
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/why-carry-a-dying-child
Jennifer, I wonder if perhaps we would hear of more children with Trisomy 18 living long past birth if they were allowed to be born in the first place. :(
Bella is a cutie.
Santorum for President!