Rick Santorum's Daughter Bella Ailing, GOP Presidential Hopeful To Stay With Family On Monday

WASHINGTON -- Rick Santorum plans no campaign events on Monday and will spend time with his wife and ailing daughter Bella.

Campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said this weekend that the former Pennsylvania senator "will not hold any campaign related events on Monday so that he and Karen can remain in the hospital with their daughter Bella." Gidley said the Santorums are grateful for the many prayers and messages of support from people.

Santorum's campaign said Friday that 3-year-old Bella had been returned to the hospital. She has the rare genetic condition Trisomy 18 and was hospitalized earlier this year with pneumonia. Bella's condition typically proves to be fatal.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[flapjacks and backslaps]

02:00 AM on 04/10/2012

family is a helluva lot more important than anything else, its time to go home ...

[WellReadAussie2]

08:28 PM on 04/09/2012

There is NO job in the world which, given the medical circumstances, is more important than this little girl.
She needs the comfort of her Daddy....24/7.
And you...Mr. Santorum, should be treasuring every single minute of your daughter...24/7.

Thoughts and prayers for Bella.

[eyedzervit]

06:44 PM on 04/09/2012

It's time for Rick Santorum to exit the race and it has been for some time now (Gingrich too for that matter). I'm just so sorry it has to be for this reason. Say what you want about Rick Santorum and his beliefs but he is the quintessential family man He has supported bills providing for vulnerable youth and foster care programs. The good that he has done has been shouted down by the media in exchange for the more sensationalist headlines about him.

[larmarch5]

05:12 PM on 04/09/2012

I have to wonder what Rick Santorum said to his wife that caused her to support his bid for the GOP nomination given the demands of a child with a serious chronic illness. I have come to suspect that she actually finds it easier to handle situations when he is not around interfering with her. The Santorum family is a sad family. You can see it in their eyes. I suspect Rick's domineering punitive behavior is quite depressing. I hope Mrs. Santorum is able to find the strength to care for her daughter.

[Phah King]

03:33 PM on 04/09/2012

My prayers for his daughter. At least he has insurance. Or is it he can just afford to pay the costs.

[washywizard84AOL]

03:31 PM on 04/09/2012

Rick should concede his loss to Romney and focus more on being with his family. I hope little Bella is home from the hospital and feeling better real soon. Value each day with her because with a disorder like hers you never know when the end may be near. Bella is a miracle baby considering the odds.

[Markrsm]

07:54 PM on 04/09/2012

Dear WAshy,

It amazes me what people will do to gain power. Look at Mr McCain, instead of spending his time with his family, he still is in the Senate.

At some point it is time to go home, at least Mr Frank did this one thing right, he went home.

[rosasturtles1]

02:27 PM on 04/09/2012

Praying for his baby to make a full recovery.

[crrunch]

02:24 PM on 04/09/2012

Staying with his family would be the wiser thing to do. He can run for prez any time, but his daughter's time, so unfortunately, is limited. Compared to his daughter, it's only the presidency.

[ashisu]

01:28 PM on 04/09/2012

I'm not a fan of Santorum, but I will keep his daughter in my thoughts. No one deserves to go through something like this.

[EndTheGOP]

01:27 PM on 04/09/2012

Finally a good decision from this most unusual person.

[mea25]

01:24 PM on 04/09/2012

Mr. Santorum: I believe this is God's way of calling you out of the world of politics once and for all. Your daughter and your family need you. America does not.

[avemariateacher]

09:37 PM on 04/09/2012

Incredibly self serving comment mea! America needs a real leader to clean up the mess of the Obama administration. I expect the powers that be have got their pick in Romney, I only hope he can restore some of our nation.

[Johnathan Lemons]

01:17 PM on 04/09/2012

Rick....go home and take care of your family. I may not like you...at all, but this is no reason to say anything foul about this situation. It could have been my daughter just as easy as it is your. I would just pack up and go home and be a good father. Advice from one of those socialist liberals you all seem to hate.

[Michele Popadynec]

05:28 PM on 04/09/2012

Why end a kind statement with one of hate?

[soundping]

01:10 PM on 04/09/2012

I hope Bella gets better soon.

[TOCB]

01:06 PM on 04/09/2012

My prayers are with the Santorum family.

[Mark Hankinson]

01:01 PM on 04/09/2012

I'm not much of a Santorum fan, but he shows a great deal of character sticking with his sweet child & family during this time of duress. I have a handicapped Grandson who means the world to me and my son's family as well. Best to you & yours Mr. Santorum, & God Bless Bella.