Published: Jun 16, 2005 ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - A brain-dead woman is being kept on life support in hopes that her 21-week-old fetus survives, and the woman's husband said he is certain that's what she would have wanted.
Posted on 06/16/2005 8:15:30 AM PDT by TheOtherOne
Brain-Dead Woman Kept Alive in Hopes Her 21-Week Fetus Survives
Published: Jun 16, 2005 ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - A brain-dead woman is being kept on life support in hopes that her 21-week-old fetus survives, and the woman's husband said he is certain that's what she would have wanted.
Jason Torres said doctors believe the fetus could have a chance if Susan Torres lives another month and her cancer stays away from her uterus.
He said he decided to keep his wife on life support when doctors at Virginia Hospital Center offered him the chance to disconnect the machines after concluding she would not recover.
"I hate seeing her on those darned machines, and I hate using her as a husk, a carrying case, because she herself is worth so much more," Torres said in an interview in Thursday's USA Today. "But Susan really wanted this baby. And she's a very - how should I put this? - a willful lady. That's probably why she's made it this far."
Hospital officials are not discussing the case, the newspaper reported.
Susan Torres, a 26-year-old researcher at the National Institutes of Health, lost consciousness from a stroke May 7 after aggressive melanoma spread to her brain. Jason Torres said doctors told him his wife's brain functions have stopped.
Torres said the fetus appears to be thriving, but his wife's doctors have told him they know of no cases in which a brain-dead mother with melanoma has delivered a baby.
If his wife and her fetus live until mid-July, or about 25 weeks' gestation, the fetus could survive delivery, though with a heightened risk of brain damage and other problems, Torres said. A full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks.
"There's not a glimmer of doubt in my mind that this is what she would have wanted," Torres said. "Any chance at all to save the baby, and Susan would have said, 'Let's go for it.' "
Torres quit his job as a printing salesman and has moved into his wife's hospital room. The couple's 2-year-old son, Peter, is staying with grandparents.
AP-ES-06-16-05 1037EDT
Are you a doctor?
If not, how do you know the "percentage" of children who grow up to be "normal" after being born of comatose women with cancer?
If you have sources, please post a link or URL.
Was wondering -- in the Blodgett case, was she on a respirator like the woman in this case? The story you linked just says she was in a "persistant coma" & on a feeding tube.
Lots of people live for years in comas without respirators, was wondering if Barbie was one of them?
Am no medical expert, but would think chances of both baby (and, maybe, eventually, of mother) would be better if she was not on a ventilator.
I do...just a minute and I will ping them.
My prayers go up for this mother and her baby. God's protection over the baby. I pray it survives! God's peace for the mother, may she already exist inside heaven's gate even while her body continues on Earth.
Nita Nupress - thank you for the ping.
Blessings,
trussell
If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.
Susan Torres, 26, collapsed on May 7 from a stroke brought on by undiagnosed melanoma. The Virginia woman, seen here with her two-year-old son, Peter, suffered serious brain damage and will not recover.
There. Thank you.
This family needs our prayers. I'm in.
Matt 18:20
"There's not a glimmer of doubt in my mind that this is what she would have wanted," Torres said. "Any chance at all to save the baby, and Susan would have said, 'Let's go for it.' "
Well prayer warriors? Have AT it! This baby needs to live...Me? I'm going to go out on a limb and ask God to bring Mom around, too.
BTTT!
God can make all well in an instant!
"Fetus is a Latin word for child or offspring."
And it's a living human being from the moment that the sperm delivers its DNA into the egg.
The way that the courts have gone, I'm waiting for someone to file a suit claiming that it is okay to abort children until they reach 18 years old.
I know if anyone's prayers can help it's the FReeper Prayer Warriors!!!
This family lives less than a mile from me. Very tragic. Prayers are desperately needed as doctors are very doubtful that they'll be able to keep her alive until mid-July (the earliest for the baby).
If you know them...PLEASE tell him that he's got MANY people from around the world, praying for his wife, his baby and him.
And to those of you who don't know Logan... (is that even possible??)...here is our very own FR MIRACLE!!! (although he was 26 weeks...)
Logan was born on July 25. His due date was in October, making his mommy 26 weeks along, being born 3 months and 3 days early.
Logan was 1 lb 9.4 oz when he was born and is now weighing, as of this morning, 1 lb. 8.3 oz. The little guy is now 12-1/2” long
Logan these days...
Ping you guys...
How great is the love that You place in our hearts for our children. We are filled with awe over the amazing courage shown by this father and mother. Lord, we want so much for You to fix everything for them---to reward them for their respect and love for this tiny child You have created. Even now, Father, You are able to restore this mother and keep this child in the womb until he is able to survive the birth experience. Gracious Lord, we confess that nothing is too difficult for You. We commit this precious family to You and ask that You give them Your very best, knowing that You love them with an everlasting love. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Please, keep me posted.
Amen! Our God is an AWESOME God and we must never limit our prayers to what WE consider possible by human standards.
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