Woman is kept alive to save unborn baby

[truthpusher]

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050616/1a_cover16.art.htm

06/16/2005 - Updated 01:26 AM ET
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Woman is kept alive to save unborn baby
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Survival hopes hinge on mom living at least a month more
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By Richard Willing
USA TODAY
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ARLINGTON, Va. — A 26-year-old pregnant woman with cancer whose brain function ceased last month is being kept alive with a respirator in hopes she can have a very premature baby who has a chance to survive.

Susan Torres, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), lost consciousness May 7 when an undiagnosed brain tumor caused a stroke while she dined at home. Her husband, Jason Torres, says doctors told him Susan's brain functions have stopped.

Torres, also 26, says he decided to keep Susan on life support when doctors at Virginia Hospital Center here offered him the chance to disconnect the machines after they determined that she would not recover. He says he believes this is what his wife would have wanted.

(snip)

Against long odds, the baby Susan was carrying when she was stricken appears to be thriving after nearly 21 weeks of gestation, Torres says. If she can stay alive another month, and the cancer stays away from her uterus, the baby could be delivered and have a chance of surviving, he says. The couple has a 2-year-old son, Peter.

“I hate seeing her on those darned machines,” Torres says, “and I hate using her as a husk, a carrying case, because she herself is worth so much more. But Susan really wanted this baby. And she's a very — how should I put this? — a willful lady. That's probably why she's made it this far.”

complete story: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050616/1a_cover16.art.htm

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. And if that is what she would want then it is appropriate

[etherealtruth]

2. That's exactly my thought as well n/t

[rox63]

3. I agree

It's about people and their families deciding this for themselves, without government interference. If she would have wanted to have the baby no matter what, so be it.

[damntexdem]

31. I agree, but why is it 'what she would have wanted'?

She knew she was dying. Didn't she express an opinion? Or, if the option wasn't presented to her, why not? Had she been unable to make personal decisions for weeks before she died?

[lastliberalintexas]

35. She didn't know she was dying

According to the article it was an undiagnosed brain tumor which was only discovered after the (basically life ending) stroke it caused.

That does not mean that she and her husband had not had those kinds of discussions, mind you, especially given that she herself was a medical researcher probably well aware of these things. Since it appears that this is what she wanted from what little is in the article, I hope the family is left alone.

[Kenneth ken]

36. "She knew she was dying." ???

Apparently NOT! The brain tumor was undiagnosed, so why would you think she knew she was dying?

[Fridays Child]

19. Exactly. It 's about the right to choose without state interference.

[rocktivity]

4. Unlike Terri Schiavo's parents, he gets it

“I hate seeing her on those darned machines,” Torres says, “and I hate using her as a husk, a carrying case..."
He understands that his wife is not alive and is gestating the fetus via life support. I wonder who's footing the bill, though. Would he have become the next Mark Schiavo if he'd wanted to pull the plug before the baby was born?

:headbang:
rocknation

[MaineDem]

5. I don't have a problem with this

Such a sad situation in any case.

[BiggJawn]

6. This gives me the heebie-jeebies...

“I hate seeing her on those darned machines,” Torres says, “and I hate using her as a husk, a carrying case..."

Well, as long as you realize that's all she is to you now, I GUESS we should be OK with it...

I think the word "Pod" would be appropriate here, too....

[Teaser]

7. Where do *we* enter into it at all?

Honestly, it doesn't matter if "we" are OK with this or not. "We" have no reason to have an opinion on this.

[rodeodance]

12. you are right--"we' do not enter--it is up to the family.

[BiggJawn]

29. *SOMEBODY* invited us in!

What, you think I go LOOKING for the Ghoulish?

Oh, and I have opinions on all matters of things. Whether I telephone my CongressCritter to attempt to get those opinions forged into LAW is another matter.

[damntexdem]

33. We have no authority. But we have opinions and should state them:

1. to support individual and family decisionmaking;
2. because there are societal costs, uses of medical resources, involved;
3. to explore our own feelings about such issues because some of us may directly face like situations in future; and
4. because this is a discussion board, so a bit nosy and filled with opinions.

[benny05]

44. I agree

Family decision..but the Republicans would support this move, then let her friggin' die instead of the other choices.

I support pro-family decisions, not just pro-life or pro-birth or pro-choice decisions. There is something in the middle, but I would argue this is pro-family. This is what she wanted, hopefully her family supports this, so it would make it pro-family.

[Horse with no Name]

16. Actually that is just reality

Once the brain is gone--there isn't anything left.
What is left is a shell. Everything he loved about her is gone.
Personally I think it says wonders about the intelligence and depth of this man, he loved his wife for what made her unique--not the body that housed her unique qualities.

[damntexdem]

32. Well, as medical technology improves ...

we may have to make many adjustments in how we feel about things.

[TalkingDog]

8. It's between them and their god. It's not my place to comment. n/t

[Lars39]

9. I hope he realizes that his other child needs him, too.

Sad situation.

[rodeodance]

10. this is not unheard of--as this has been done before--I wish the

family well.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. I suspect in this case he is thinking of the other child

and not wanting it to grow up alone without a mother or the sibling that would have been. I think all of these cases are very tough calls, but if he is acting in accordance with what his wife would have wanted - then I wish him the best.

[Lars39]

23. I wish them the best, too.

Just hoping he doesn't go overboard staying at the hospital;
the other little one still needs him, even though he's staying with the grandparents.

[TrogL]

48. There is no evidence that he's going overboard

He's made a decision for his family, which is right and proper.

I'd rather have the child at the grandparents than in day care.

[Tsiyu]

13. If that's what the mother would have wanted

then I wish this man the best. He seems to be sensitive to the implications. I hope the sacrifice results in a healthy babe.

[LizW]

14. Horribly sad, but if it's what she would have wanted

Bottom line is, it's a personal choice. The husband sounds like he's doing what he thinks she would have wanted.

I hope the baby makes it and is okay.

[Tux]

15. Sad

His wife is dead but has to keep her body alive to save a baby. He must be feeling like hell ran him down. Sooner the kid can be saved, the faster her body can be put to rest and her husband can mourn her and raise their kid.

[shawn703]

17. Very sad

I hope the baby is okay if it makes it until the doctors induce labor. My baby sister had to be delivered early and survived, but had severe health problems her entire life, and still died as a child. Although she was born more than ten years ago and they probably know more about care for very premature babies nowadays.

[Kittycat]

18. As a mother of a Micro-Preemie

This is very hard for me to hear. I know first hand the horrors of what he is about to face if that baby is born that early. We spent 6.5mo in the NICU with our SURVIVING twin, born at 24.0wks. It's hard, the road ahead will not be easy - and for the best odds of survival, he needs to be at that NICU every single day, and hold that child at the first possible opportunity (we had to wait 7 weeks for that) - he needs to do so many things that will be so hard :(

I hope things turn out for the best, but I really don't think he has any idea what he's in for.

[RobinA]

26. I Was Just Going To Respond

that I hope he knows what he's in for, and what his other child is in for. I have some issues with CHOSING to bet the ranch on one child's iffy survival when there's other kids back at the ranch.

[Lars39]

28. Your post just reminded me of the insurance angle...

does he and his family have coverage now since he quit his job? :scared:

Hugs to you, Kittycat. :hug: I hope all is well for you and yours.

[Kittycat]

51. Most States...

Will cover the child, without issue to the parents. Some states, regardless of income, will cover a child if they spent the first 30 days of life in the NICU, up to their first birthday. CHIPS or Aid is there for such babies when regular care runs out. For example, my husband's insurance policy folds at 2million (80/20 w/1500 oopcare & 750/oopscript). My son's care - to date is over 1.8 mil. But 1.2 is on my former employers insurance (which had a 5mil cap and paid 100%).

In addition, all states have a program called Early Intervention (EI). It may got by another name, depending on the state. In northern IL, it's called Childcare connections. It's a federally mandated, and underfunded program. So, depending on the state and case load - there may be a financial requirement on the family - in addition to them billing your insurance for reimbursement. In our case, we made too much to qualify for the program, and would have had to pay $200/mo out of pocket + they would bill our insurance + our insurance co-pay. With all of our regular insurance bills, prescriptions, co-pays, and running my kid to the dr 1+ hours away to see the pediatric specialists, we couldn't take on that added amount. Besides - why pay the $200 at all??? I have insurance that is going to get billed anyway - so why do I pay the state??? We are moving in the fall, and the county we are going to will only charge us the $200 if our insurance fails to cover. At least this way my child will get priority - which we don't right now (I have a hard time finding special therapists for him).

Anyway, the short of it... One thing that actually pays to be poor for, is having children. And that still doesn't provide the proper upbringing, but it does give you access to medical care.

[damntexdem]

39. My son was not so small (3 pounds, 4 ounces), or so early, ...

but we did find that we were in for a lot. But we wanted him and have been very happy that he survived, to grow much taller than me I might note. No, we don't always know what we are in for when we make tough choices, but if we make the choice out of love, we can generally face what we are in for.

And the important political point is choice: being able to make a choice and then to face the consequences of the choice. That's far better than having some true-believing moralist specifying for us what we must do.

[bpj1962]

20. poor guy

I saw this poor guy on the TV last night. He is just hoping that the baby makes it to 26 weeks and then they will probably deliver the child. His wife has a type of melanoma that can spread to the uterus and then to to baby so there is a true concern as to whether or not the baby will make it. On a side note my mothers neighbor of 34 years was just admitted to the Virginia Hospital Center. He has terminal cancer and he was becoming dehydrated. The first thing they asked my mother about was his medical directives and his wishes. This is a very good hospital and Arlington County is a very democratic county so I hope and pray that when he decides to turnoff the machines there will not be the same circus that terri shiavo went through.

[barb162]

21. this reminds me of a woman I knew

She started getting horrible headaches in her last trimester. She was about 25. A very, very bad brain tumor was discovered. They did a C-section and she saw her healthy baby girl for about 2 minutes before they wheeled her straight in to have brain surgery. She never regained conciousness as her brain swelled and she died. The little girl is about 4 now.

[zbdent]

22. Okay, there have been MANY MANY MANY times that women have

put themselves in danger to save the lives of their children.

I have no doubt that this woman would have gone to any lengths to make sure her baby would survive.

It's a whole different ballgame when the person is pregnant.

And it would have been a choice she would have to make.

[Redstone]

24. I admire both of them, and wish only the best for the

father and the kid. They have a tough road ahead, but at least will have the comfort of knowing what a magnificent and courageous woman their wife / mother was.

Redstone

[Singular73]

25. Imagine when the baby, if it survives, finds out....

Thats gotta be spooky, "Yeah, son, your mom was braindead while you were in her womb..."

The man IS doing the right thing, just saying its gonna be spooky for the kid when he grows up.

[jokerman93]

27. Yeah

This seems to be as it should be. But if any crypto-fascist end-timer, or their selected officials tries to leverage this unfortunate situation to their political advantage...

I'll...I'll...have to turn myself in to Homeland Security!

:mad:

(And to any humorless pod-agents of the regime that may be monitoring this: JUST KIDDING.)

[Timefortruth]

30. He'll have the debt forever

Unspoken, but hovering like a cloud: Picking the first option would be hugely costly. He'd be ground down by unimaginable debt. The couple has health insurance but expects it will cover only a fraction of the cost, currently running at least $7,500 a day, he says.

The bankruptcy bill will protect society from laggards like him.

[DearAbby]

34. Her Husband should know what she would want in this situation

And he alone has to make this decision in her stead. My sympathies for the family. I hope that all turns out well for the new life that is trying to survive.

[4_Legs_Good]

37. That's awesome!

[msanthrope]

38. What horrible choices to have to make......

but I'm glad this woman has a husband who seems to have a good head on his shouldlers.

I wish him and his children all the best.

[mainer]

40. Why is this news? It's a distraction, like Schiavo and missing blonds

Don't let them make us take our eyes off the ball -- the DSM hearings!

[marshall]

41. A big world

It's news because we live in a world where more than one thing is happening at the same time, and the ethical decision faced by this man, whether to keep a loved on on life support, could be faced by any of us one day. Hopefully across the country people are letting their loved ones know what they would like to be done for or with them in such a circumstance.

[donheld]

42. Blessings on this family

I'm sure she would be proud.

[rebecca_herman]

43. Such a sad story all around

If that's what he thinks his wife would want than he is doing the best thing. Things like this should be left a private family decision. I hope that it does end with a healthy baby even if it's against the odds.

[bleedingheart]

45. My heart goes out to him and his little boy

there are so many risks for that baby she is carrying right now. She is technically dead, but that baby risks being put into fetal distress by any condition that affects the mother.

Plus the risk of the cancer spreading to her uterus.

Here they were thinking they had a great future and a new baby coming...and then in a flash it is all messed up.

Blessings to all involved.

[ismnotwasm]

46. I hope she's an organ donor as well

Very, very sad case. But if he realizes that "she" is not there, then maybe he will consider it, if he knew her wishes. I hope they are able to harvest viable organs to give others a chance at life

[Samurai_Writer]

47. I don't think cancer patients can be organ donors *NT*

[fortyfeetunder]

49. A difficult situation

I would not for one minute want to be in the husband's shoes. What difficult decisions he's confronted with. He is a man of faith and optimism, and he will triumph over the adversity before him.

I feel most of all for the little boy who is puzzled over his mother's long absence. That is at the age where kids are getting a clue about objects and people disappearing.

I only hope the cancer does not spread to the uterus and jeopardizes the pregnancy. That seems to be the last hurdle.

[zann725]

50. The ultimate Repug Stepford dream...Woman as a non-thinking "Incubator"

These kind of stories in the past infuriate me so as the ultimate subordination and objectification of Woman rights (as second-class citizens) whose rights are seen as secondary to that of the Babies they bear.

[rebecca_herman]

52. I don't see why abortion issue has to be brought into this

This is a family's private tragedy. If the man truly feels this is what his wife would have wanted then she should be kept on life support in hopes of getting the pregnancy to a viable gestation. When a pregnancy is wanted the fetus is truly a baby to those who love and want it. I truly hope the anti-abortion crowd doesn't try to exploit this awful situation for political gain. I am very, very pro-choice but were I this woman I would not mind being kept alive on life support for this purpose. I wouldn't be willing to die to save a pregnancy but if I was already dead I wouldn't mind my family having the doctors do whatever try to save the pregnancy...