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Rick Santorum's daughter Bella was born with Trisomy 18, a chromosomal disorder.
At age 3, Rick Santorum’s daughter Bella, who has been hospitalized for the second time during his presidential campaign, has outlived the majority of children born with Trisomy 18, a relatively common chromosomal defect that occurs in one out of every 3,000 to 5,000 live births and is three times more common in girls than boys.
Children with Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, have three copies of chromosome 18, instead of the normal two, in their cells. Many pregnancies with affected fetuses miscarry, and half of all affected babies who are carried to term will be stillborn, according to the Trisomy 18 Foundation. Most cases aren’t inherited but occur as a random error in cell division during the formation of eggs and sperm, according to the National Library of Medicine.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of children with Trisomy 18 survive the first year of life, and they often have severe intellectual disability, according to the library, part of the National Institutes of Health.
“They usually die from inability to breathe,” says Dr. Larry Fenton, director of pediatric palliative care at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. “The mechanism of the brain telling the lungs to expand frequently is defective.”
Still, “while the developmental disability in children with Trisomy 18 … is significant, it is important to recognize that children do advance to some degree in their milestones,” Dr. John Carey, a pediatric geneticist at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, writes on the Trisomy 18 Foundation’s website. “They can interact with their families, smile and acquire some skills, such as rolling over, self-feeding, etc., if they survive infancy.”
The reason for Bella's current hospitalization hasn't been released.
"Rick and his wife Karen have taken their daughter Bella to the hospital. The family requests prayers and privacy as Bella works her way to recovery," Santorum Communications Director Hogan Gidley said in a statement.
In January, she was rushed to a hospital in Virginia when she developed double pneumonia.
A small number of children with Trisomy 18, usually girls, live into their 20s and 30s, according to the foundation. However, the organization says, they have “significant developmental delays that do not allow them to live independently without assisted caregiving.”
Those who do survive beyond their first year usually can’t talk or walk and need some sort of a feeding tube in order to get nourishment, Fenton says. Although they are able to breathe, they’re likely to die eventually of pneumonia or other infections, he says. Largely it’s because they spend a lot of time in bed. "They don’t do the kinds of things that help clear the lungs, so they are much more vulnerable to infections.”
Recently, Fenton says, he met a 30-year-old woman with Trisomy 18, the oldest person he’d ever met with the disorder. “I would have to say she was profoundly disabled on the one hand and beautiful on the other. She was impeccably dressed. She had makeup on. She clearly knew her mom and dad and could reach out to them.”
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This is a very serious condition that does not even begin to allow anything that could even be remotely considered an acceptable quality of life.
So what is your point?
God bless little Bella, I wish her and the family all the best ............
As far as politics and Obama Care in all this ........I can tell you from experience that NOONE is "denied healthcare", that is a farce !!!
My mother had breast cancer and was insured ...but there were MANY at the same doctors offices that WERE NOT covered by health insurance and they GOT THE SAME EXACT CARE my mother did !!! So all this saying people aren't being treated is BS !!! Yes, they may want you to PAY THEM something or on a payment plan or something without insurance ............BUT THEY ARE NOT BEING DENIED !!!!
Yes, you may lose your home and your new car during the process .........Whenever ANYONE cannot pay their bills, that CAN happen and DOES happen often ...... It's called LIFE !!!! BUT its a TOTAL LIE for people to say that people are dying cause they are being DENIED healthcare cause its NOT happening !!!!
The "problem" is ......people do not want to PAY ANYTHING for healthcare ......no premiums, no payments, NOTHING .....they want it TOTALLY "FREE" ...........and well .........NOTHING is totally "free".........SOMEONE IS PAYING and IF its your RESPONSIBILITY.....That "someone" SHOULD BE YOU !!! My mother owed THOUSANDS of dollars for the care and the prescriptions even though she had "good" health insurance ......... WHAT MAKES ANYONE ELSE "SPECIAL" to where THEY should get it TOTALLY FREE ? NOTHING !!! That is what !!!
I have been without healthcare before and I made arrangements to pay payments to the hospital until I paid them off after an accident where I had fallen.......... I didn't expect anyone ELSE to bail me out and pay the bills ........
A vast majority of the TRULY "poor" are already on Medicaid ect ..........they are NOT being DENIED care either .......Even the HOMELESS are NOT being DENIED care !!! They can walk into hospitals and be treated just like anyone else ...... even WITHOUT any insurance , a job, or anything else .........they are NOT sent away !!!!
For those who THINK , those with insurance will not be affected by Obama Care.....you are MISTAKEN !!! The goal is to overregulate and make demands on the private insurers that will BANKRUPT them so the government can TOTALLY take over the health care and ELIMINATE your private insurer ........Once the government has TOTAL control ......there will be NO OTHER CHOICES and if they say NO to your care ........You will simply DIE .
They are going to appoint a "panel" to decide if you are "worthy" of care or not depending on your age ect .........if they don't like you for ANY reason and say "NO".....you get NO care !!! Do you REALLY WANT your government to decide if you live or die ? People say there will be no "death panels".......but if a panel decides you DO NOT get care......what else would you call that ?
Anyways....God Bless Bella....may she live long and as well as she can with her illness.......
legally hospitals that are not for profit do not have the right to refuse you if you do not have insurance,
but they are doing it everyday!
also pre-existing conditions? ever hear of that?
Poor Bella, Hope she comfortable. Sure hope that she gets better soon.
Lord, Please don't let Bella suffer she been through enough. Take her pain away. Amen
Another sad thing is that this could happen to anyone that has children pass the age of 40. The risk of having a baby with Trisomy 18 or other defects grows higher will each passing year. That's why doctors said, it's best to have babies when your in your 20's and 30's. That's why they have those test for people over 40.
Hey, Def NOT a fan of Insanetorum, but the man has his own cross to bear, and to not feel for this loser is just inhuman. We would ALL struggle to save our children, no matter how misguided our beliefs. It's not his fault he has pretty much unlimited health care coverage while millions of deserving Americans do not..
And, WE are the people who allowed Congress to have such great benefits like health care, vacation, sick leave, etc by not voting out those who voted for it to send a message...
The govt is just another corporation in my mind that ought to follow the same rules any other employer demands. Well I think the message is clear on another point...Let congress be taxed and treated like any other employer... Random Drug screens, taxable health care (if it comes to that), and performance reviews based on actual accomplishments that SAVE money or extend programs to those who need it, not giving the GSA $850,000 to blow in Vegas or being congratulated for partisanship. The only positive thing I can say about Santorum is that he loves his wife and kids, probably has never even considered cheating on them with another woman, and he would probably fire anyone who mis-used funds like this latest scandal. But then again, I think that lady will certainly step down anyway after the most recent Fox news broadcast... : )
And to Char in Ohio, oh you are so mistaken and misguided. While it's true that people can't be legally denied health care, it is the quality of health care that is also at question. If you go to a free clinic that has no handout meds for free, and someone doesn't even have the 2.00 to pay for a prescription, then they are not going to buy that medicine because they can't afford it. I don't completely disagree with you on all your points, but you make it sound a bit more rosy than it truly is.. I've worked all my life and I enjoy BCBS and I pay a great deal for it. And when I go to the Dr for something, rare as it is, I see sometimes hear people there in the waiting room discussing their problems, and the fact that they opt out of a needed heart surgery because they can't afford the co-pay, or they can't afford even the generic medicine is heartbreaking. Not everyone was always on welfare. These people worked their entire lives, and then through no fault of their own, be it a slick investor who lost their entire life savings, or like you, a fall that led to a hospitalization, and then bills piling up, so you choose if you can eat or take pills, or see the doctor or take physical therapy.. These are the heartaches of people who aren't so lucky as you and I....
rick santorum is a great guy with a great set of morals and for that he will be ridiculed from all liberals. all the vile comments that comes his way are people making fun of his morals, his belief in God. How can anyone make fun of him for taking his last child home so his entire family can say goodbye. what in the world about that is bad. that was a beautiful way to say goodbye to his child. this guy is all about class and those with no morals at all don't like him. Rick your a good guy, and your little girl knows that. I wish her the best of luck, God Bless that little angel and God Bless your entire family at this time
let's not get crazy here- santorum is a douche bag. he has two sets of morals, one for him and one for everyone else. he should be ridiculed, as he puts his fanatical religious beliefs ahead of the reality of life.
also, whatever happened to separation between church and state?
I'm sorry Santorum's daughter was born with this problem, and I hope she continues to defy the odds, but he still isn't worthy of the Presidency.
I'm no fan of Santorum as a politician, but he did do one thing right. He didn't have kids he couldn't afford to take care of and then bitch about the fact that they don't have healthcare. Whether or not everyone should be entitled to healthcare is a valid point of discussion, but if you are currently in a position where you DON'T have health insurance, don't have kids and then expect the rest of us to pay to take care of them.
So, what you are saying, is that his PUBLICLY FUNDED coverage is fine and dandy with you? And the rest of humanity can suck an egg? Good for you! Hate everyone else like the good little conservative you are!
I'm not hating anybody. I'm just asking people who don't have health insurance not to MOOCH OFF OF THE REST OF US! And get your hands out of my wallet you SOCIALIST PIG!
If you, makememad, weren't so stupid you would know that Insurance is a form of socialism. The Insurance company takes in money from a large number of people with the assumption that not everyone is going to get sick at the same time. When you do get ill, you get covered by everyone else's contributions. You are not just limited to what you pay in.
"...to not feel for this loser is just unhuman." LOL, that is definitely the quote of the thread! Thanks Steve.
this is how they like (somebody should sing a song) that their children and family can get the best care and the so called regular people just have to die,stricking example DICK (literally) CHANEY. any ordinary (really dont like to use this term when refering to people ) person with his condition would have died a long time ago.there used to be a saying "money cant buy life" but it shure can extend it.
Exploiting his kid's medical condition for publicity... outstanding! :(
I could not disagree more with the man on almost every political issue, but I feel for his family and hope that his daughter overcomes the odds and lives a long healthy life. Our political or religious differences as a country should never get in the way of our love and respect for fellow Americans.
Good for him and his daughter. I wonder what percentage of children with this disease do not survive because we don't have socialized medicine? That's some sweet sweet publicly funded congressional health care coverage you got there Santorum.
It's a very serious condition that affects every organ in the body Mark. Few survive very long, medicine or not.
For the record, about half of all human conceptions are chromosomally abnormal, and most die in utero. This would make Santorum's God the biggest abortionist of all. If He cares about fetuses so much, as the hyperreligious claim, he's got an awfully funny way of showing it.
Exactly Dave, most conceptuses die wihin a few hours of fertilization. The god nuts would have us believe these are all human beings with souls. There are five hour old zygotes in the afterlife? Really?? Are they in "heaven?"
My heart goes out to the Santorum Family.
Both he and his wife had the right, that he wants to deny others(if by the grace of Satan he is ever elected President)the right of Choice.
His daughter is a gift and no matter how long she lives I do believe she has given her family great joy and love.
Poor little thing - but if she is a gift from god - god has an odd way of doing things.
Why does a 53 YO man have a 3 YO child? How hold was his wife when she had this child? The older you get, the higher the chance for birth defects. Does anyone know her age? Is this some messed up thing like Elizabeth Edwards having kids at age 48 and 49 ?
What does a mans or womans age have to do with this case? Age means nothing! There was a lady who was 70, who carried her daughters baby, because the daughter could not. How beautiful is that? Worry about the child, not age.
chance of birth defects rise with rise in age of mother and father, come on now...
Karen Anne Garver Santorum (born April 22, 1960) is the wife of Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. His wife will soon be 52 years old. She had to be around 48 years old when Bella was born.
Having a child that late in life. The child risk of having some type of birth defect is much higher. That's why most doctors advice women what could happen. You need to be prepare for what's to come. When you decide to have a change of life baby. Their putting their baby at risk for having health and mental problems.
The Santorum don't believe in birth control or abortion.
Age 48 risk 1 in 25 for DS
Not a fan of his...at all.... However, I would never wish this sort of thing on anyone. I can not think of anything more horrific than your child to essentially be handed a death sentence and there is nothing you can do to stop it. I pray for him and his family, for anyone who has to deal with this.
I cant believe some posters here? This is about Sanitariums daughter, not your political agenda! I may not like (i despise him) Sanitarium, but this is not the time for that!
I hope that his daughter Bella lives a full, happy, (as happy as can be) life! You go Bella! Get well little darling!
Santorium made it politcal himself by advocating his right to choose and not advocating another persons right to choose.
sad for Bella? yes
think he is stupid? yes
As a catholic did he practice the rhythm method?
if so we see how that worked don't we.
Thank the good Lord this young girl has great health insurance for life as per her father's membership in the Senate. She will be treated by the best and hopefully survive. God bless the Government Employees Health Insurance Program and it's help for this young sick child
I sometimes wonder if ignorance is deliberately acquired. I just can't believe the cruel idiotic selfish disgusting posts I'm seeing. Do you really believe Obamacare is actually a good thing? It isn't, and it won't be free. It will be paid with our tax dollars. The quality of that care will be of the lowest possible standard. Government will become your insurance agent. The fact they are pushing so hard for birth control and abortions through this "health care" bill is already an obvious sign that they want as few people on this supposed good thing as possible. If anyone thinks it's their tax dollars that are paying for Isabella's care and the Santorums are getting a free ride off of you why do you support Obamacare. Here is this man pouring his heart out to America. Traveling constantly, presenting actual feasible plans to make our country strong and prosperous again. Who has a proven track record of getting things done. Rick Santorum is in no way a "buffoon" as some immoral idiots like to call him. He articulates his position clearly and concisely. He by far is the best candidate ever to be running for President and even you morons who are against him will reap more benefits than you've ever had before when he is President. Try actually listening to what Rick really says, and not some twisted edited clips. If you think Mr Santorum is an idiot, a buffoon, a moron, a dope, or anything like that, then please tell me what qualities a person must have to be worthy for consideration to be President of the United States.
no, the reason why the govt is pushing so much for birth control education is because more people need to use birth control...
santorum is the "best candidate ever" to be running for president? better than Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Clinton? I want what you're smoking!
let me know how great he is once men start getting arrested for getting a blow job from their wives...
biggest quality in a presidential candidate I've been looking for lately- one that understands there is a separation between church and state in the USA...
He is ignorant for having a child at his age with a women her age because of the great risk of DS
He is ignorant to practice the rhythm method, it does not work
He is ignorant to think that he can have the right to choose and think that others do not want that right for themselves.
His comment on rape was that of an ignorant man.
His understanding of rape and birth control are ignorant.
His understanding of most women voters is ignorant.
How will Obamacare be paid for with our tax dollars? There is not a public option; it's all about people going out and buying their own insurance.
What is paid for, currently, with our tax dollars and medical fees, is the bill that hospital ERs incur when they take care of people who can't afford to pay and don't have insurance. In other words, we are paying through the nose for people with no insurance right now. That is what Obamacare would help with -- the more people with health insurance, the less of a financial burden for the rest of us. If Obamacare is shot down, what is the Republican's plan for dealing with this problem? Oh, that's right -- they have no plan.
That child was sent to punish Rick Santorum.
I am a liberal just as Christ was a liberal, believing in giving, forgiving and compassion. God bless this little child. May her path be comforted. May the bumps in the road be few. May her future be eternal.
This and other chromosomal disorders become more frequent with older parents. The reason is that as we age our chromosomes stick together so that the possibility of haveing 3 or 1 in place of the usual 2 in a fetus is more common. Most chromosomal disorders that are of this nature produce natural abortions as another person to post has mentioned.
First of all, I hope his little girl makes it through this. She is a remarkable child, and my prayers are with her and her family for a recovery.
Now, I am going to say this and please do not think I am being cruel because if this were my child, I would take this advice to heart. I think, since this is the second time she has been in the hospital, that Santorum should consider dropping out to take care of his family. Tragically, this is the second time that she has been in the hospital since the campaign started, and if this was my child I would just get back to family life and take care of my family instead of going, "Oh, ok, she is better now off to my next primary!" It makes him look bad when he does that. He is lagging, and his daughter is sick. He needs to stop chasing the rainbow and take care of his family. Family is the most important thing in the world.
I hope Bella comes out alright, but she needs her daddy home with her to.
If this kid was among the majority of children in this country who lack health insurance, and if the republicans had their way, she would be tossed out in the street.
The government is not a business, its doesn't exist to make profit and that wasn't the intention of the founding fathers at all. It was built to protect the people and maintain order, not let them die from curable diseases.
Recently a woman died in some backwater state (google it for full details) because she refused to go to the hospital because she didn't want "no obamacare!"
It later came to light that this same woman had been watching fox news non-stop, and her family could not pry her from it. She was whipped into a conservo-frenzy and died from her warped sense of patriotism which views government help as evil socialism.
Its really sad, you see these tea-party people and they are unhealthy, fat, and some are even on oxygen, and their out there in the hot sun screaming about how evil more accessible health care would be. What a way to spend your Golden years, fighting to make sure sick people don't get help, all to save a few bucks, ironically they spend much more money driving to the Obamacare rallies in gas and revolutionary war regalia than they would helping the sick.
Seriously, when your @!$%#ty job cuts your healthcare and you get diabetes don't you want to be able to get some help? Is it so evil to want to live regardless of your job?
Santorum's daughter is just lucky she wasn't born poor during a Santorum presidency or she would have some serious odds to defy..