Susan Torres, who has been on life support since May 7, gave birth to a baby girl today. (Note: the Torres Family has released a statement (click here). Update: sadly, Baby Susan Torres has passed away - click here for more information)
Despite being born 142 weeks early, there were no complications during delivery and the baby "is doing well," Justin Torres, Susan's brother-in-law, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. The baby, Susan Anne Catherine Torres, weighs one pound 13 ounces and is 13 1/2 inches long, he said.
Susan lost consciousness from a stroke after aggressive melanoma spread to her brain. Her husband, Jason Torres, said doctors told him his wife's brain functions had stopped.
Related Site: Susan Torres Fund
Update: Doctors had hoped to hold off on delivering the child until 32 weeks' gestation. News reports do not indicate why the baby was delivered at 26 weeks although it seems likely that Susan's cancer had progressed and the child was at risk.
On July 18 Justin told the USA Today, "It�s week-to-week, or more accurately, day-to-day right now. Her cancer clearly is progressing, but she seems to be fighting all that much harder to give the baby a chance."
There are few individuals whom I respect more than Jason Torres. As a husband he faced incredible challenges that required significant personal sacrifice. Yet, he did what needed to be done to preserve the life of his daughter, Susan Anne Catherine Torres.
Tom at Truth and Action comments, "We are both happy that Susan Anne Catherine Torres has arrived, and saddened that her mother isn�t able to hold her. Pray for that family and visit the Susan M. Torres Fund and contribute what you can."
Update (Aug.3):
A brain dead woman who was kept alive for three months so she could deliver the child she was carrying was removed from life support Wednesday and died, her family said.Although original news reports indicated that Susan was 26 weeks along when her child was born LifeNews reports that number is 27 weeks. In addition, the article states a potential danger to the baby:
Susan Torres' plight attracted worldwide sympathy after she suffered a stroke in May as she battled cancer. She gave birth to a daughter, Susan Anne Catherine Torres, on Tuesday by Caesarean section."This is obviously a bittersweet time for our family," Justin Torres, her brother-in-law, said in a statement.
Doctors are concerned that the metastatic melanoma may have crossed the placenta and affected baby Susan.Sharon Hymes, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said the timing of the possible spread to the placenta is uncertain.
"It's very rare to have placental metastasis, but if you had to pick a tumor that would do this, melanoma would be the tumor that would do this kind of rare thing," Dr. Hymes told MedPage.
Related:
Statement from the Torres and Rollin Families
Susan Torres Passed Away Today
Update (Sept. 12):
"After the efforts of this summer to bring her into the world, this is obviously a devastating loss. . . ." Justin Torres said in a statement. "It was our fondest wish that we could have been able to share Susan's homecoming with the world."
From the family's website:
With great sadness, we are asking for your prayers for the repose of the soul of 5 week old baby Susan Ann Torres. She passed away last night after surgery for a perforated intestine. Please include in your prayers a request for the peace and comfort of her family, especially Jason Torres, who has had a very difficult past several months.More on Baby Susan's passing can be found here.
Our llb,11-1/2oz. granddaughter, born at 25-1/2 weeks is now a beautiful bright wonderful young lady of almost 16 yrs. and is at this moment representing her state of NC in a zone swim meet in Houston, TX. I'm sure the Blessed Mother is going to watch over Susan Ann Catherine Torres, just like she did our granddaughter. May God bless all your family - you have many prayers.
My prayers and thoughts go out for your family through your hard times. My daughter was born at 29 weeks and it was a long stuggle but she grew stronger and stonger with each passing day. Now she is a bright 7 year old who is just like any other child she has CP but I feel it has made her stonger and god intended this for her. she is the most kindest and caring little girl there is. She is truley an amazing child who I for one have learned alot from. I hope the same for you and your family.
With all my thoughts
Teri