Michelle Malkin » Prayers for Bella Santorum

Prayers for Bella Santorum

By Michelle Malkin • January 28, 2012 10:38 PM

Word came down tonight that Rick Santorum has canceled his Sunday campaign events to be with his 3-year-old daughter, Bella, who was admitted to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia earlier today.

The Santorums have spoken movingly throughout their campaign about Bella, who was born with Trisomy 18, and recently had surgery.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

The three-year-old daughter of Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has been admitted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the candidate has cancelled his Sunday morning campaign events to be at her side.

Santorum campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said Saturday night that the former Pennsylvania senator and his wife, Karen, were with Bella at CHOP. Gidley said Santorum planned to return to campaigning as soon as possible in Florida, where the Republican primary is Tuesday.

Bella Santorum has Trisomy 18, a genetic condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. Bella was not expected to survive until her first birthday and concerns over her health have canceled previous Santorum campaign events.

During his campaign, Santorum and his wife have spoken openly about the challenges and rewards of raising a child with such a condition.

The Santorums have six other children; they lost a baby boy, Gabriel, shortly after his birth in 1996. Bella was born in 2008; two years later, Santorum wrote about her in an Inquirer column.

“All children are a gift that comes with no guarantees,” he wrote. “While Bella’s life may not be long, and though she requires our constant care, she is worth every tear.”

Bella, whose full name is Isabella Maria Santorum, has become a symbol of his pro-life stance, as he claimed that most infants diagnosed in the womb with Trisomy 18 are aborted.

Please keep this beautiful little girl and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

***

Meet Bella:

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Posted in: 2012 Campaign,GOP

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#101

On January 30th, 2012 at 11:54 am, RedDog said:

The courage of this family makes me ashamed of my own cowardice on many levels. We’d be blessed to have a family like this in the White House. The Palins as well.
#102

On January 30th, 2012 at 6:18 pm, ChapBix said:

#92. On January 29th, 2012 at 9:42 pm, 123upnorth said:

If re-elected president, Barry ~~Rick~~ would continue working toward growing government and toward taking all of your ~~half~~ earnings.

That’s more accurate. And I know that is not what 123upnorth wrote.
#103

On January 30th, 2012 at 8:17 pm, Drkmagneto said:

God bless this wonderful little girl and her family. The White House needs a President like Rick Santorum. Prayers on their way!!
#104

On January 30th, 2012 at 11:02 pm, angryoldfatman said:

God bless the Santorums.

And I love that picture/video. A politician can fake a smile, but no girl that little can fake the love she has for her Daddy.
#105

On January 31st, 2012 at 10:15 am, FirstSkirt said:

I’ve been a Rick Santorum supporter since he started running for President. At that time, I didn’t know about little, precious Bella. Win or lose, the Santorum family has my prayers, including the well being of this beautiful child. Tomorrow is promised to no man, and they have expressed how blessed they have been to have this child in their lives, with no guarantees of a long life for her.