Santorum Runs for President as Daughter Battles Terminal Disorder

Now that former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum virtually tied Mitt Romney in the GOP Iowa Caucus, hard questions which were never asked of Santorum as a cellar dweller in the GOP Presidential Polls until 2 weeks ago, are about to come flying and here's mine. As a father of a young child with a terminal disorder, why is Rick Santorum, a long time champion of strong families, putting his ambition ahead of his daughter, Isabella (Bella) Santorum and what is the impact of that ambition on a wife, also caring for 6 other children, who appears to be assuming all responsibility for Bella's constant care, as Rick campaigns daily to attain the highest office?

Rick Santorum's youngest daughter "Bella," has a genetic disorder called Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome. 90% of children with this disorder die within a year. Bella is 3 1/2 and is considered an outlier, representing 1% of children who have defied death this long. A miracle, to be sure, and my heart and prayers go out to the Santorum family. There is no cure or effective treatment, Bella's time here is limited and medical episodes are ongoing. In a Washington Post article in November (link at bottom), the Santorums had 2 such situations with Bella, when Rick "moved" the family to Iowa for 3 weeks during the summer to campaign and he told the Post about the tough decision he had to make on whether to go out and campaign or stay in the hotel and care for his daughter. More disturbing, during the Las Vegas GOP debate in October, Santorum referenced flying a red eye home afterwards as his daughter had undergone a "procedure." The procedure was an operation and it's unfathomable to me that a father would not be there for his little daughter, particularly in light of her fragility, let alone to comfort and support his wife.

No one has been a bigger defender or proponent of "Traditional Family Values" than Rick Santorum, and no one has made more public speeches or introduced more legislation to dictate those values to the American people, who often hold other views. He and wife Karen have brought 8 children into this world. They lost one within 2 hours of birth and will lose another far earlier than is right, fair or understandable. Until then, they've been blessed with Bella, who needs constant care, will have continual setbacks and worse, and my family values dictate Rick Santorum should be focused not on an unfilled desire for an elected office he will not attain but on Bella, his wife and the rest of their children.

Why isn't he?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/gop-hopeful-rick-santorum-campaigns-with-a-seriously-ill-daughter-at-home/2011/11/28/gIQAMWdHAO_story.html