Bella Santorum Released From Hospital

WASHINGTON -- The 3-year-old daughter of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has been released from a Virginia hospital and is settling in at home with her parents, a campaign spokesman said Tuesday.

Bella Santorum, who suffers from a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 18, was hospitalized Friday as her father began a brief holiday break from campaigning. Santorum did not campaign Monday so he could be with his daughter, who was discharged from the hospital Monday night.

Campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said Santorum has cancelled his first two events scheduled for Tuesday, but will add a campaign stop in Gettysburg, Pa., in the afternoon. He will also join James Dobson, the founder of the evangelical Christian group Focus on the Family, for what the campaign called a "conversation on faith, family and American values" in Lancaster, Pa., on Tuesday night.

Gidley said Santorum and his wife, Karen, were "truly overwhelmed by the prayers and support they've received."

Santorum faces an uphill battle against front-runner Mitt Romney in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Five states, including Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania, hold primaries April 24.

Romney is spending $2.9 million in TV ads in Pennsylvania. But in deference to Bella's illness, Romney's campaign pulled down a harsh ad that was running against the former Pennsylvania senator there. Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Monday the campaign asked TV stations over the weekend to pull the ad and replace it with a positive, pro-Romney spot.

Romney is far ahead of Santorum in the race for delegates to the Republican National Convention and is the party's likely nominee. Santorum has said he won't drop out of the race, though he has acknowledged he will have to win Pennsylvania if his campaign is to survive.

Santorum carries a photo of Bella and often says she wasn't expected to live beyond her first birthday. Her story is well-known to religious conservatives who back Santorum because of his strong position against abortion.

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Comments

[equalrights2]

11:20 PM on 04/10/2012

What a stand! and what an example of a devoted father, mother and family. The right to bring her into this world was God's. Bella has a purpose here. It is wonderful that she is loved so much. God will provide them strength, courage and a path.

[Ella-Phan]

11:04 PM on 04/10/2012

Definitely not a fan of Santorum, at all, but I hope his daughter's health will improve. No child should have to deal with serious illness.

[ratssaidskinner]

10:05 PM on 04/10/2012

Like him or not as a presidential contender, I give his wife a lot of credit for standing by him at the same time she has her hands full with Bella. I'm not sure if the couple knew Bella had a genetic disorder during the pregnancy. However, agree or disagree whether it is "right" to bring a child into this world with such a serious condition, the Santorums stayed with their faith and religious teachings. To me, that's a personal choice.
I admire their conviction. However, I can't help but feel Santorum put an extra heavy load on his wife with two extremely stressful situations -- the GOP race & his daughter. While nothing is certain, I hope he devotes much more time to Bella from this point on.

[Exkabex]

09:51 PM on 04/10/2012

All I can say is that is a good thing HE has health insurance.

[lk415]

09:49 PM on 04/10/2012

First let me say, poor little Bella -- a child who didn't ask to be born, an child whose life could not have been easy, and whose rare genetic condition was known from the onset of Mrs. Santorum's pregnancy. They knew that a child born with her condition rarely lives beyond one year, and yet chose to continue the pregnancy anyway. Then they went ahead with yet another pregnancy, a child who died at birth.

Eight pregnancies, the last two doomed from the get-go, when you already have six children. Mrs. Santorum was clearly beyond her safe child-bearing years. Does Rick equate procreation with virility? This is a huge environmental footprint from yet another right-wing family. I just don't get it. Their decisions had to adversely affect their other children, both emotionally and financially.
These people clearly are not clear thinkers.

[HIGNJ]

06:11 PM on 04/10/2012

Don't care much for her dad but glad she is going home...

[Smeagel4T]

04:52 PM on 04/10/2012

While I feel for his daughter, I'd like to know who's paying for the health insurance Santorum is relying upon. America is filled with other daughters just like Santorum's. What about those daughters?

[Bronxdude]

03:33 PM on 04/10/2012

Prayers answered!

[Haydar Kiran]

03:14 PM on 04/10/2012

Best wishes to his daugher. I don't like Santorum personally, but pray that his daughter wil live a long healthy life.

[Sloneczka86]

02:54 PM on 04/10/2012

No child should have to suffer, poor girl.. I wish all the best for Bella

[Danielck62]

02:42 PM on 04/10/2012

Best wished to Bella! I bet Mr. Santorum is glad he has good health care coverage courtesy of the tax payers!

[dryvetterrc3]

02:30 PM on 04/10/2012

To the Santorums
My prayers are with all of you.
May God continue to work with your special angel Bella; and grant her the health she needs. May you all find comfort in knowing that He watches over the family.
God Bless little Bella

[nazztea]

02:28 PM on 04/10/2012

For all of you late to the show; Rick Santorum has just suspended his campaign.

[Char60]

01:50 PM on 04/10/2012

I wish his daughter well. Mr. Santorum has to know that this is the reason why we need healthcare, not everyone is as fortunate as he is to have good government insurance.

[Koiblossom]

01:17 PM on 04/10/2012

I wouldn't vote for him, but I'm glad his daughter is better. As for staying home with his daughter, in his mind--valid or not--he likely believes he's attempting to better her life. Whatever his views now, we all know how our own views change as we get older and wiser. So will his. In the mean time he's doing what he can for family and taking time off from his run shows he cares a lot. When she finally leaves this world will he regret not spending more time? Likely so. Wouldn't the rest of us? Just because he's financially able, doesn't mean he has 24 hours he could spend with her if he wasn't running. And quite frankly, even a 3-yr-old would get tired of a dad hovering around every minute! Any sick child needs to feel 'normal.' Not like a fragile piece of glass...

[Freedland]

02:54 PM on 04/10/2012

Well said, maybe Sister Sarah could take some good advice from him and spend time watching her children instead of carting them around like props and leaving them at home with the Big Bopper.