Best wishes to Catherine Herridge, Fox News Channel homeland security correspondent, and her infant son, Peter, who underwent surgery this week. Catherine donated a part of her liver to her son, who has a condition aknown as biliary atresia. More info here from the American Liver Association. Via WaPo, “Officials with the cable channel report that both have a long recovery — Herridge will be in the hospital for at least a month; Peter, who suffers from a bile-duct disorder, for at least eight weeks — but that they’re doing well.” FNC host Greta Van Susteren covered the story:

This medical problem has been dogging all of us at FOX since Peter was born a few months ago. We had all hoped it would be resolved short of this surgery. It has not. Catherine came into my office last week to tell me that time had run out to wait for a liver and that she would be doing this. Of course the conversation was a difficult one but also an inspiring one. Catherine is determined to have her son live and is doing what every mother would do. This is a life or death decision.

Catherine and I talked about how many families go through a medical crisis like this and how difficult it is. The emotional toll can’t be expressed in words. Imagine the pain of wanting a liver for your baby knowing that it meant some other family was losing a baby.

Catherine and I talked and talked about what families go through. It occurred to us that maybe — just maybe — we could try and turn around the fear and anxiety for both her and other families by telling you about it and by televising a segment about this family, a FOX family and the huge advancements in science. American medicine is truly remarkable: things can be done that seem impossible to those of us unschooled in it.

Catherine and her husband weighed the pros and cons of us doing a story on her family and what they are facing — the cons being the need for privacy at what could be a life or death time for their family and the pros being the chance to inspire other American families facing a medical crisis and to show the truly remarkable aspects about medicine. Catherine and her husband talked about it and then decided that the chance to inspire others and highlight American advancements in medicine was important. As you might imagine, during this time they have met many others who are in the same difficult position they are. Plus, the chance to highlight all the great things the Pittsburgh hospital has done is also important to them.

Hence I am headed to Pittsburgh with the hope that we can tell you an inspiring story, not one that will bring you down. We want to inspire you and dazzle you with this story of love and science. We don’t want to depress you. Remember, Catherine and her husband are feeling determined right now. They are an important mission of love.

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Reader Sarah O.’s little girl could use your prayers, too. Annabelle, you are a cutie-pie. We are pulling for you. CaringBridge is a wonderful, free website service for families going through medical crises. A bit of its history:

The inspiration for CaringBridge came from the real-life experience of founder Sona Mehring’s close friend, who suffered a life-threatening pregnancy in 1997.

Needing to keep friends and family informed about the critical situation, Sona and friends created a Web site. The Web site helped the family communicate information to a wide circle of people here and abroad, without disturbing the mother’s need for rest or placing extra demands on hospital staff.

Baby Brighid was born during the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy. With her mother in critical condition, the one-pound newborn was quickly rushed to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Web site posted daily news about mom and Brighid. An accompanying online guestbook enabled visitors to send the family messages of love and encouragement.

Sadly, Brighid’s story does not have a happy ending. After a nine-day struggle against tremendous odds, she died in surgery.

Conveying even this saddest of news was somehow made easier by posting messages to the Web site. People were informed without the family having to bear the painful burden of making several emotional phone calls. The parents also had a place to post a final message to honor Brighid and their supportive online community.

The sad news of Brighid’s death prompted an outpouring of loving messages to the family. The family was so moved by their online experience that they wanted others to have the same opportunity. A memorial fund, created in Brighid’s memory, enabled Children’s Hospital in St. Paul to dedicate a computer and Internet access for families wishing to create their own online community.

And CaringBridge was born.

Donate here.

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In February, I linked to the Dear Elena blog, a beautifully written diary of a father who lost his six year old daughter suddenly and unexpectedly. His latest entry is about cleaning out Elena’s desk at school with his surviving daughter, Maggie. It will make your heart ache. Especially the last sentence.

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