Santorum Cancels Monday Schedule to Remain With Hospitalized Daughter
Bella Santorum, who was rushed to a Virginia hospital on Thursday, remains hospitalized. Her father, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has canceled his Monday schedule to remain with his 3-year-old daughter.
"Senator Santorum will not hold any campaign related events on Monday so that he and Karen can remain in the hospital with their daughter Bella," stated spokesperson Hogan Gidley in a written release late Saturday.
"The entire Santorum family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support," the statement read.
Santorum and his wife Karen have not released details on why Bella was admitted to the hospital on Thursday. However, the 3-year old suffers from Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder that is usually fatal for children in the early stages of life.
Children with Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, usually do not live beyond the first year or two. They have three copies of chromosome 18, instead of the normal two, in their cells.
According to the Trisomy 18 Foundation, many pregnancies with affected fetuses miscarry, and half of all affected babies who are carried to term will be stillborn.
Gidley did tell The Wall Street Journal on Saturday that Bella's condition had stabilized and that he felt confident that the former Pennsylvania senator would resume his schedule on Tuesday.
According to the campaign's public schedule that was also released on Thursday, Santorum did not have any events scheduled, but most likely would have held meetings and made phone calls to gander support in his home state of Pennsylvania, where former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has taken a slight lead.
Rumors are swirling that Santorum is considering whether to drop out of the race rather than face a defeat in the Keystone State.
Bella was also hospitalized in late January with a case of pneumonia and had a tough few days. According to her dad, she had a "miraculous recovery."
