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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Domenico Montanaro reports on Rick Santorum's daughter being taken to the hospital and the state of his presidential campaign.
Rick Santorum's daughter, Bella, afflicted with a chromosomal disorder, was taken to the hospital for the second time during this campaign. Santorum is home in Virginia for the Easter holiday.
"Rick and his wife Karen have taken their daughter Bella to the hospital," Santorum Communications Director Hogan Gidley said in a statement. "The family requests prayers and privacy as Bella works her way to recovery."
The Santorums have medical equipment in their Virginia home and and a nurse on call that can tend to Bella. Because of these accommodations, Bella only needs to be taken to the hospital when her condition is very serious, a person familiar with the situation told NBC News.
This is the second time during the campaign that his 3-year-old with Trisomy 18 has needed to be taken to a hospital. Santorum canceled events in late January after Bella was rushed to a Virginia hospital when she developed pneumonia in both lungs.
The Santorums prefer to take Bella to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, but the severity of the January incident caused the family to rush to a hospital closer to their Virginia home.
It is unclear at this time which hospital she has been admitted to.
Leave a Comment:
Why go to the hospital?? Just pray, you know, the god guy you spew so often about will take care of her.
Science dosn't exist remember?
You're an idiot ......Don't politicize a child's illness......
PValdes: "Don't politicize a child's illness"...I hope for the best possible for Bella, however, her father doesn't give a damn about anyone else. Especially those too poor for health insurance.
I don't have it ....can't afford it ......and don't expect it. Had I done things differently perhaps my lot in life would be different. Not Santorums fault and certainly not Bella's fault .
slightlyold,
Amen. Were any of our children sick, Rick Santorum would only support that child getting care if their parents had good insurance or were independently wealthy. Otherwise, he could give a rat's ass if your child dies or your family is financially ruined.
Nice to have healthcare, eh rick?
Government healthcare no less. Or as he would call it "Socialized Medicine"
I do not agree with Mr. Santorum's politics and especially his attacks on women's healthcare and rights. However, this is his child she is ill and any parent in America should know the difficulties and sadness in having such a sick child. Please people let's keep these comment classy and leave our views of the man's politics at the door before posting a comment.
This article has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with a families struggle and pain of their extremely ill child.
I hope he takes care of his daughter, but still has time to run his campaign. Myself and my colleagues are behind him all the way.
Santorum should be spending every second with his daughter...
I agree ......there are certainly things in life more important than politics.
Wrong Tara this has everything to do with politics. This moron would take away from the poorest even the ability to take their children to a hospital.
GOP, party of survival of the fittest or die quicker!
Again I say this is not the article to pick a argument on. His child is sick, his child will eventually die from this disease. Respect the sick child attack his politics at a more appropriate time.
As citizens we have the right to disagree with a candidates views and believe me when I say I do not agree with his politics but leave his baby girl out of the argument. It is just simply rude and disrespectful.
Tara,
BoredwithsameO has a point. Santorum couldn't care less about the dying children of poor people, why should anyone give a rats ass about his?
Granted his child isn't to blame for her father being a supreme douche bag, but nor are the children of the poor responsible for their parents being poor.
Simply put because it is not her fault and we should not be heartless and uncaring to the struggles of this little girl who has done nothing wrong.
Sorry but your wrong.
This is the exact time to point out his hyprocracy in regards to policy. This man would deny to everyone else what he takes for himself and his family. Folks who blindly follow without understanding the implications of his policies need a wake up call. The sad part is that even the death of a child will probably not be enough.
BTW, this is not an argument, What Santorum would do to people who don't hold his views is fact. And its not pretty, as is a sick child.
BoredwithsameO,
Agreed completely. Were my daughter sick and dying, Rick Santorum would not fight for her right to care, he'd make sure I'd have to pay out the nose and put my family into financial ruin. This is the precise moment we need to be having this discussion.
Tara, you are wrong. This is a very good time to bring in politics. Especially the health care issue. Just because he has a sick child, doesn't change what he is.
There are many children in the United States who are just as sick and have no health care. I pray for Bella but not for the father and mother.
VirginiaDemocrat78. Agree with you. "This is the precise moment we need to be having this discussion".
The baby and her family are in my thoughts. Never been a fan of Santorum as a politician and don't particularly like him as a person (from what I know) but from one parent to another, I hope his daughter recovers quickly.
Have you ever met the man? If not, then you don't "know" anything. Why make judgements about him as person?
He makes his personal beliefs well known. He is an evil, vile, detestable person.
JS, sadly, children with T18 do not recover.
GoUSA. I do not need to know the man personally. Every day in the news he tells the world what he thinks about sick children, women, the old. He is a hateful, nasty human. Bella's mother and father do not deserve her.
Bella seriously needs to make up her mind. Jacob will NOT wait forever. Team Jacob all the way.
What are you a twelve year old girl. This is a ridiculous and immature comment.
Best wishes for Bella. Sadly, this is what happens when women keep having children as their age advances. The children suffer. Greatly. He prefers to not use birth control. I prefer to make sure that none of my children have to experience what Bella is gong through.
I don`t care who is the GOP nominee. But I believe the man needs to put the little girl at the top of his agenda. She needs a daddy more than he needs to be president.
The worst part is he KNOWS he isn't going to win the nomination and still the campaign is his priority.
There is no recovery for TRISOMY 18---there is only maintenance
Let's hope he has health insurance...
jbird: He does. Paid for by the tax payers of the United States.
As much as I dislike Santorum I will still offer my thoughts and sympathy to him, his family, and especially his daughter.
I have a daughter of my own and know how much she means to me. I can't imagine his means any less to him.
The thing is, your daughter means didly squat to him. Suppose, God forbid, that your daughter gets sick, and you can't afford health insurance. Rick Santorum would not fight for her to get care, he'd rather see her die, or your family go into massive debt trying to save her. I have no sympathy at all. Rick Santorum is an evil person, and when bad things happen to evil people, Rick Santorum would tell us it is God's wrath.
Virginia Democrat: I truly feel sorry for you.
Don't feel sorry for me, feel sorry for all the people in this country that cannot afford health insurance. You know, the one's that Rick Santorum doesn't think deserve quality healthcare.
GoUSA: I agree with VirginiaDemocrat. Don't feel sorry for me either. Feel sorry for the people that cannot afford health insurance.
All children deserve health care, the same kind that Rick has for Bella. But, he is against it, and therefore, he is an evil hateful man.
Bella will not recover but they have health care to make it a little easier for her.
Best wishes for Bella's full recovery! However...if Santorum and the GOP get their way, and the child had been born to someone uninsured and waiting for Obamacare to be implemented, she would die! One child lives and one child dies...it's that simple. Are we a country that cares for the vulnerable or the Wall Street bankers?????
I hope she pulls through ... but this child could (and probably should) have been aborted. What kind of life is she having (in and out of hospitals and suffering all of her short life ... life expectancy is short for people with this affliction). Tests would have indicated her problem. Santorum, and his ilk, are selfish morons who deserve the same fate as the poor souls they bring into this world. Life is tough enough without bringing a disadvantaged child into the world that will never have any semblance of a normal existence.
Why would you post that this child "probably should have been aborted?" That is the most vile thing you could have posted. Or do you think that the right to choose is only to be respected if the choice is abortion?
All of God's children are precious . It is not for us to pick and choose which ones should or should not exist . The fact of the matter is ..... she is here now ....until she is called home...... Leave this little angel out of your stupid political bickering.
Because most children with T18 are aborted. It's a painful life filled with suffering for the child. Most that are not terminated are stillborn, most that are born alive die within 5-10 days. Most that live past 10 days do not survive past the first year. Most that survive the first year do not live to 10 years. Any parent who gets a diagnosis of T18 in early pregnancy and doesn't terminate is cruel.
grandall I agree,
Really seems to be all about selfishness. To allow a child years of endless suffering just because of a mythological belief is beyond understanding. There will be no happy ending here, no "Miracle" just misery and death.
What a horrible vile father.
Go USA ... how is this vile in any way? We have the medical technology to discern severe physical and/or mental abnormalities in a fetus. How is it wrong to abort a child with severe mental and/or physical handicaps? Why also is it wrong to abort a child as a result of rape or incest? Abortion is an issue best left to an individual and her higher power, and is none of your GD business.
And PValdes ... how is a life filled with suffering "precious?" You, sir, are an IDIOT of the highest order. I'll pray for you.
Grandall.....When my children were born I could have found out what sex they were going to be......If they had an illness or what have you . I chose to leave it in Gods hand and pray that they would be healthy. I was blessed with two beautiful healthy girls. You cannot call someone selfish because you are void of faith. It is up to the individual and cannot be dictated by Law or Government. WHO ARE YOU to tell anyone what or who to believe in? It is none of your business .....
grandall. Good post. And, just to add....If the personhood become law anywhere. Remember, the child born with down, heart problems, and all other problems will have preexisting conditions, and if the Affordable Health Act is gone what is going to happen. The children with problems will die within a few days.
People should start paying close attention to people like Rick Santorum.
PValdes ... I am happy you were blessed with two healthy girls. I am not telling you, or anyone else, in what or whom to believe. In fact, I am telling you that these kinds of decisions are best left to an individual and their higher power, particularly in the case of abortion. I still maintain, however, that knowingly bringing a severely handicapped child into the world is selfish and irresponsible. And not checking, because we have the technology, is just as bad.
PValdes,
Nobody is telling you what to believe. The simple fact is that we have technology today that allows us to see inside the womb and tests that can tell us if our child will be healthy. It's great that you took a gamble and "God" gave you two healthy children. That is not the case for everyone, sometimes "God" gives people sick children, children that, if they survive, will suffer greatly. If any parent with compassion in their heart knows that their child will live a life of pain and suffering, the bravest and most compassionate thing they can do is terminate that pregnancy. Not saying it wouldn't be a heart wrenching and painful decision, but their heart would heal. A child suffering with T18 would not.
Get better Bella.....
No one wants to see a child going to hospital, but is it such a leap to ask Mr Santorum to extend that same right to those who cant afford his level of insurance? Are the rights of the poorer less than his when it comes to equality of healthcare and the ablility to pay for it?
Must be nice to be wealthy and have health insurance good enough to provide in-home medical equipment and a nurse on-call. What would his family do if they were in the same position that many of the rest of us are in? Go bankrupt? Forego health care? No matter, it's obvious that Santorum doesn't give a crap about the rest of us
Why the envy? If you want what others have, then do what they have done to earn what they have.
Go USA ... your response is pathetically glib and you are irrelevant to this discussion. Everyone in American society does not have the same advantages, or access to education or opportunity, particularly in this economy, that you suggest. Please go away.
GoUSA. He has Government Health Care. Paid for by the citizens of the United States. Paid for by the citizens even if they cannot afford their own.
And, it is not envy. It is the truth.
Ironically, the Santorum family would benefit greatly with "Obamacare". Health and family is more important than politics.
"Santorum Concedes Need for "Obamacare"; Says His Special Needs Child Took Up Too Much of His Income "
http://www.insuranceforums.info/millionaire-santorum-admits-that-his-family-needs-obamacare-could-happen-your-family-t16569.html
slightlyold: So what if he does? He is a former representative and senator. He has nothing that any other former member of Congress has. If you want what he has, do what he has done. That isn't a glib answer. It's the truth. As for other things that those with money have that those without don't, do you think all should have those too? Same type house? Same kind of food? Same kind of retirement? I wish I knew when people in this country began to feel entitled to what others have.
As for Obamacare, it matters not one whit who it would benefit if the law does not fit within the framework of the US Constitution. Don't like the Constitution, then work to change it. There is a mechanism for that. Surely, you know that, right?
Ayatollah Santorumenis sins are being visited on his child.
That's what he gets for being a lying POS.
Suck it up, Rickie boy. Deal with it like a man.
I don't care much for Santorum at all but I sure am praying for Bella's recovery.
Barbara Ann,
Bella has T18, children with T18 do not recover. They die.
Why pray for her recovery? If I had it, I'd pray for death ... a swift one rather than the endless hospital visits I'd have to endure until the inevitable happens. Get a reality check people.
Both of you go to hell for that comment. Spread your hate where it's wanted and live the rest of your miserable lives with the hope that maybe your life will be as special as Bella's or anyone else suffering from a birth defect.
Barbara, who are you to pass judgement on them. That's God's job. This is one of the reasons atheists have problems with Christians. Don't make them hate us even more because it certainly doesn't help bridge the gap.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwards_syndrome
http://www.trisomy18.org/site/PageServer?pagename=parents_whatisT18
I hope he does not have the US Government Health plan (FEP) as continued critical care for a TRISOMY 18 is enormously expensive---if he does have FEP then how dare he deny health care for others! He would be having the US Government help foot the bill for his family and not allowing others to choose the health care plan that works for them!
Wiley-Fox. Being an ex-Senator, he has Government Health Plan.
God bless this child and pray for her recovery.
There is no "recovery" for this condition, just suffering. And since Santorum has tax-payer funded health insurance, we'll pay for it whether we can afford health care for ourselves or not.
Thank God he has insurance eh?
Taking advantage of a sick child in the hospital to spew political venom..... Really...?
Yes, absolutely. This is the time to talk about this. Rick Santorum says if you cannot afford health insurance, your sick child is of no concern to him. He was a US Senator, so he has a wonderfully expansive healthcare plan, paid for by, you guessed it, the federal government, and vicariously, every US taxpayer. Socialized medicine. They very thing he opposes for all who are not as affluent as he.
It's the Republican way.
When you are a vicious, lie spewing idot like Ayatollah Santorumeni, he has it coming.
Spot on Virginia ... too bad the hypocritical Republican Party does not realize the "sickness" they have in their own diseased way of thinking.
And I agree ... Santorum's daughter's illness is the precise and timely event in which to discuss the larger issues surrounding healthcare in this country.
It's sick to see how many people are trying to push their political agenda's over a child's suffering. Shame people, shame.
Why not? Does Rick Santorum care if my child suffers? Well that would all depend on just how much money I have, wouldn't it?
I would bet my life that he wouldn't type that your child should die or should have been aborted.