Posted on 07/21/2005 4:10:31 PM PDT by CHARLITE
RICHMOND, Virgina (AP) -- A brain-dead pregnant woman on life support has reached the milestone in her pregnancy where doctors believe the baby could realistically survive outside the womb, giving her family renewed hope about the devastating ordeal.
Susan Torres, 26, lost consciousness from a stroke May 7 after aggressive melanoma spread to her brain. Her husband, Jason Torres, said doctors told him his wife's brain functions had stopped.
Her fetus recently passed the 24th week of development -- the earliest point at which doctors felt the baby would have a reasonable chance to survive, her brother-in-law said.
"The situation is pretty stable," said Justin Torres, who is serving as the family's spokesman. "Susan, we have said from the beginning, is the toughest person in that ICU room."
Jason Torres spends every night sleeping in a reclining chair next to his wife's bed at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, about 100 miles north of Richmond. The hospital has declined to comment on the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
What the heck??? They couldn't get him a bed??? Geeeesh!
Please keep us posted as to how this turns out.
That is a good, honorable man.
At least that baby will definetly have a good father.
My girlfriend was recently hospitalized and they were nice enough to relocate her to a room with no other occupants. They brought me a mattress and I stayed the night.
Prior to that I was in the lounge on a couple of chairs.
I spent four weeks in a hospital bed following two surgeries. I have been convalescing at home while sleeping in a La-Z-Boy recliner.
I much prefer the recliner.
ping
Amen, FRiend. And the child will grow up knowing that he or she was definitely wanted.
Now that is one loved baby. God bless 'em.
Just an incredible moment. Prayers for this family.
Prayers, continuing, beaversmom. I'm STILL praying for that REAL BIG miracle!!!!
Rooms in an ICU are usually on the small side and can be quite crowded depending on how much equipment is in there. Most likely there's no room for an extra bed or even a cot.
Wonderful news. Another two or three weeks, if possible, will make a big difference for the baby.
So which is it, a baby or fetus? The AP seems confused.
James Taranto, why are you on vacation?
Susan Torres collapsed on May 7th while pregnant (17 weeks). At the tender age of 26 she is brain dead as a result of stage four melanoma, with no hope of survival. However, her child (a girl) continues to develop as Susan remains on life support. Such care is not completely covered by the family's health insurance. The resulting cost to them is $1,500 per day.
I would ask once again that you consider donating as much as you can to the Susan Torres Fund (http://www.susantorresfund.org/). Donations are tax deductible. Also, for those in NoVa, there will be a charitable basketball game on Saturday, July 30th ("Swish for Susan") in Manassas. Anyone interested in attending, please contact us at Ken4Sen@Cuccinelli.com.
It's inhuman to expect a woman to carry a baby to term when she is so sick. Her husband obviously only cares for the baby -- a husband who cared for *her* would want the baby aborted because it is obviously a strain on her body to sustain the life of the baby when she herself is so ill.
And think of the child's life -- what child born under those circumstances would believe that she had not killed her mother? How can you bring a child into the world to live with that level of guilt?
As far as the husband sleeping in the wife's room night after night, he's only doing that to increase donations!
How was that for liberal speak?
Michael Schiavo spent years by his wife's bedside. Something not one of you can understand. How dare you.
My prayers continue for everyone involved in this situation. The husband, the baby and the mother. I pray for an extreme miracle!
Horatio Gates - thank you for the ping.
Blessings,
trussell
If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.
I spent a lot of years at my Grandparents bed side, but I always encouraged the nurses to take BETTER care of them, and for them to eat, not starve.
Thank you and a bump for your post!
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