Torres Family and the Road Less Traveled

CNSNews.com ^ | 08/04/2005 | David Thibault

[bigsoxfan]

"I'm going to tell her, her mother was one of the toughest women I've ever met, that she was absolutely determined in what she did.," Justin Torres told reporters Wednesday, just after his brain-dead and cancer ravaged sister-in-law had given birth to a little girl of less than two pounds -- Susan Anne Catherine Torres.

Shortly after the birth of his second child, Jason Torres, Justin's brother, had to say farewell to his 26-year-old wife, who had been kept alive long enough for their baby to reach a stage where she could be delivered and survive. Once that happened, and you might conclude that the only way it happened was through God's miraculous grace, the life support machinery keeping Susan Torres alive was turned off and she passed away.

The Torres case gripped the Washington, D.C., area, the country and even parts of the world. But we at CNSNews.com had more than a passing interest, not just because of the astonishing courage and will shown by the Torres family during their ordeal, but because little Susan Anne Catherine's uncle was a senior staff writer here from the middle of 1999 until early 2001.

Justin Torres' 488 news articles written for CNSNews.com dealt with many issues, including discrimination against religious broadcasters, the ongoing slave trade and genocide in Sudan, the presidential election recount controversy of late 2000 and the debate over abortion.

On Sept. 26, 2000, Justin reported on the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a conservative effort aimed at countering the practice of partial birth abortion, which the U.S. Supreme Court had defended in its Stenberg vs. Carhart decision.

As a result of the bill, which President Bush eventually signed in 2002, an infant who "breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles" after birth, "regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion," cannot be harmed.

While his personal views did not enter his news copy, Justin's colleagues knew how he stood on the issue of abortion. Yet, no story he ever covered for CNSNews.com could have exposed the virtues of the pro-life argument as capably as Justin's own personal experience helping his younger brother Jason cope with the impending death of his wife and the hoped for miraculous birth of his daughter.

All previous arguments for the need of partial birth abortion were demolished. The options available to the Torres family, including the premature delivery of Susan Anne Catherine as soon as her little body could survive outside the womb, have been and currently are available to couples coping with difficult pregnancies.

After Susan Torres, in her near death condition, gave birth to a healthy child, I wonder whether any of the pro-abortion organizations will even dare to advocate for the availability of the late term procedure that calls for a baby to be partially delivered before the attending physician (and I use that term loosely) stabs scissors into the skull of the infant and sucks out the child's brain.

Through strength, tenacity and prayer, Susan Torres and her family overcame enormous adversity and odds. The fruit of their labor, 1 pound, 13 ounce Susan Anne Catherine, instantly became a symbol of life and hope, countering in profound terms the increasingly prevalent culture of death in today's America.

On Wednesday, Justin Torres told reporters that among the things he looked forward to telling his niece was that, "You cannot believe how many people fought for you." As reported by many news organizations, the family has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to help with the huge medical bills and gifts for baby Susan.

But Justin might also like to share the words of Robert Frost with his niece, for the words perfectly sum up the Torres family's wisdom and determination.

"I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference." Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken

(David Thibault is editor in chief of Cybercast News Service)

[Rutles4Ever]

God bless the Torres family.

[NYer]

Through strength, tenacity and prayer, Susan Torres and her family overcame enormous adversity and odds.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla Prayer

O God, who have said that there is no greater love than that of giving one's life for the beloved person, we thank you having given us in Blessed Gianna a shining example of true love and respect for life. Help us understand, to live and to spread this her message. Revive in all wives in the world the sense of their mission and the respect for every life which is God's gift, at the cost of sacrifice.

Give us the grace that we await and the joy of proclaiming "Saint" Gianna who, on the example of Jesus, has generously given her life for the life of others. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Hoodlum91]

BTW, there is a picture of little Susan at

http://www.susantorresfund.org

[conservatrice]

She looks extremely good for a baby of her size and age. Look how pink she is! Praise God.

[Mrs. Don-o]

BTW, there is a picture of little Susan at

http://www.susantorresfund.org

Thanks, Hoodlum91, for posting this. The family has huge medical bills which still exceed the donations given so far. So I would urge everybody to kick in a couple of bucks --- you can go to this site and contribute via PayPal.

[starfish923]

Birth and death -- prosaic, ordinally and happens to all of us. They are also the two biggest human miracles.

[cpforlife.org]

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[TAdams8591]

"On Sept. 26, 2000, Justin reported on the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a conservative effort aimed at countering the practice of partial birth abortion, which the U.S. Supreme Court had defended in its Stenberg vs. Carhart decision"

How about THAT???? Such a coincidence! What a terrific family! More prayers.

[tutstar]

bttt