Brain-dead woman's fetus passes key point- 24 weeks

[angelraven]

Brain-dead woman's fetus passes key point
Doctors think 24 weeks earliest baby could survive

RICHMOND, Virgina (AP) -- A brain-dead pregnant woman on life support has reached the milestone in her pregnancy where doctors believe the baby could realistically survive outside the womb, giving her family renewed hope about the devastating ordeal.

Susan Torres, 26, lost consciousness from a stroke May 7 after aggressive melanoma spread to her brain. Her husband, Jason Torres, said doctors told him his wife's brain functions had stopped.

Her fetus recently passed the 24th week of development -- the earliest point at which doctors felt the baby would have a reasonable chance to survive, her brother-in-law said.

"The situation is pretty stable," said Justin Torres, who is serving as the family's spokesman. "Susan, we have said from the beginning, is the toughest person in that ICU room."

He said the family is "as certain within the limits of sonogram technology" that the baby is a girl. "Cecilia" was one possible name the couple had discussed, Justin Torres said.

A Web site was set up to help raise money for the family's mounting medical bills, and they have now received about $400,000 in donations, Torres said. Jason Torres quit his job as a printing salesman to be by his wife's side and the family must pay tens of thousands of dollars each week that insurance does not cover, the family says.

Donations have poured in from around the world: Germany, Britain, Ireland, Japan -- even a check with no note from a soldier in Iraq. On Monday, the family received a hand-knit baby blanket from a woman in Pennsylvania who was on a tight income but wanted to do something to help.

Jason Torres spends every night sleeping in a reclining chair next to his wife's bed at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, about 100 miles north of Richmond. The hospital has declined to comment on the case.

The couple's 2-year-old son, Peter, is staying with grandparents. He has not seen his mother, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, since her collapse.

If possible, the doctors hope to hold off on delivering the child until 32 weeks' gestation, Justin Torres said. A full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks.

The melanoma has spread to her lymph nodes and taken over her vital organs, but they continue to function. There is a chance the cancer could spread to the placenta, but so far it has been spared, Justin Torres said. Extra precautions, including limiting the number of visitors, have recently been taken to help her avoid infections.

Doctors have held off on giving the family a prognosis because the situation is so rare, said Torres, who believes his sister-in-law will likely hang on for a few more weeks.

Since 1979, there have been at least a dozen similar cases published in English medical literature, said Dr. Winston Campbell, director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center, which conducted research on the topic.

Aside from the tubes and machines she is hooked up to, the tall and athletic Torres looks remarkably well, her brother-in-law said.

"She would have wanted us to fight for this baby -- there's no doubt in our minds," Justin Torres said.

The family received an unexpected sliver of joy on June 21, when Jason Torres felt his child kick for the first time.

"It was a very, very nice reminder of what this is all about, and very heartening to us to know that we're making progress and that we're getting closer and closer," the brother-in-law said. "That was a very good day for everyone."

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


I can't imagine what this family must feel. This is one of the saddest things I've read in a long time. I hope this little baby makes it.

[isign]

That's so sad. If it were me, I'd want to be in the same position, I'd want to be kept on life support to sustain the baby, kind of like a final gift - the gift of life.

[LeslieandPaul]

That's got to be so hard on her family. They're going to lose her, but they'll still have that baby-who will be a miracle. I hope everything works out as best it can for them.

[lawyerlee]

That's such a sad story. I hope everything works out OK with the baby so something good can come out of such a horrible tragedy. :(

[jarm]

I cry everytime I hear this story! So sad!

[Camdynlyn]

WOW! Amazing.

[nic]

What a sad and amazing story. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.

[Chris'slady]

What a amazing story, and a strong woman.
my heart goes out to the family, and bless that woman as she fights for her baby.
whoa tear jerker.

[christyz1]

Such an amazing story! I also would want to be kept alive for the baby's sake. At least something good will come of this, even though it is an awful situation. My prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

[mrs_pell]

Oh my goodness, I am just in tears after reading this! It must be so devastating to the family to watch her like this, and so scary to just hope for the best for the baby!

This part just wiped me out:
Donations have poured in from around the world: Germany, Britain, Ireland, Japan -- even a check with no note from a soldier in Iraq. On Monday, the family received a hand-knit baby blanket from a woman in Pennsylvania who was on a tight income but wanted to do something to help.

It's so nice to hear about the GOOD things that people do in this world! :)

[Abby'sMom]

Update to this story:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A brain-dead pregnant woman who has been kept on life support for nearly three months to give her fetus more time to develop gave birth to a baby girl Tuesday, the woman's brother-in-law said.

There were no complications during delivery and the baby "is doing well," Justin Torres 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. The infant was delivered via caesarean section, the hospital said.

Susan Torres, a 26-year-old researcher at the National Institutes of Health, lost consciousness from a stroke May 7 after aggressive melanoma spread to her brain. Her husband, Jason Torres, said doctors told him his wife's brain functions had stopped.

Jason Torres quit his job to be by his wife's side, and last month her fetus passed the 24th week of development - the earliest point at which doctors felt the baby would have a reasonable chance to survive, the brother-in-law said.


A Web site to help raise money for the family's mounting medical bills had received about $400,000 in donations from around the world as of two weeks ago, Justin Torres said. The family said it must pay tens of thousands of dollars each week that insurance does not cover.

Torres was about seven months' pregnant when the child was delivered. Doctors had hoped to hold off on delivering the child until 32 weeks' gestation. A full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks.

The infant is being monitored in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, about 100 miles north of Richmond.

"The entire staff and administration of Virginia Hospital Center, especially the physicians and nurses caring for Susan Torres and Baby Girl Torres, are delighted with the successful delivery," the hospital said in a statement.

A spokeswoman declined to release any additional information, including Susan Torres' condition and whether or not her life support was still in place.

A telephone message left for the brother-in-law was not immediately returned.

Since 1979, there have been at least a dozen similar cases published in English medical literature, said Dr. Winston Campbell, director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center, which conducted research on the topic.

[lawyerlee]

Brain-Dead Woman Dies After Giving Birth (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050803/ap_on_he_me/brain_dead_pregnancy&printer=1;_ylt=Au_lhom3X63c8.VUCXITnB1a24cA;_ylu=X 3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-)

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer

http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050802/capt.ny12308022307.brain_dead_pregnancy_ny123.jpg? x=180&y=248&sig=DQntqmbCd6X2.4sL769rVw--

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, a day after giving birth.

"This is obviously a bittersweet time for our family," Justin Torres, the woman's brother-in-law, said in a statement.

Susan Torres, a cancer-stricken, 26-year-old researcher at the National Institutes of Health, suffered a stroke in May after the melanoma spread to her brain.

Her family decided to keep her alive to give her fetus a chance. It became a race between the fetus' development and the cancer that was ravaging the woman's body.

Doctors said that Torres' health was deteriorating and that the risk of harm to the fetus finally outweighed the benefits of extending the pregnancy.

Torres gave birth to a daughter, Susan Anne Catherine Torres, by Caesarean section on Tuesday at Virginia Hospital Center. The baby was about two months premature and weighed 1 pound, 13 ounces. She was in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Dr. Donna Tilden-Archer, the hospital's director of neonatology, described the child as "very vigorous." She said the baby had responded when she received stimulation, indicating she was healthy.

Doctors removed Torres from life support early Wednesday with the consent of her husband, Jason Torres, after she received the final sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church.

"We thank all of those who prayed and provided support for Susan, the baby and our family," Jason Torres said in a statement. "We especially thank God for giving us little Susan. My wife's courage will never be forgotten."

English-language medical literature contains at least 11 cases since 1979 of irreversibly brain-damaged women whose lives were prolonged for the benefit of the developing fetus, according to the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Dr. Christopher McManus, who coordinated care for Susan Torres, put the infant's chances of developing cancer at less than 25 percent. He said 19 women who have had the same aggressive form of melanoma as Torres have given birth, and five of their babies contracted the disease.

A Web site was set up to help raise money for the family's mounting medical bills, and as of two weeks ago, people from around the world had donated around $400,000. The family said it must pay tens of thousands of dollars each week that insurance does not cover.

Jason Torres had quit his job to be by his wife's side, spending each night sleeping in a reclining chair next to her bed.

The couple have one other child — 2-year-old Peter, who has been staying with his grandparents.

****************************************

I don't mean to stir the pot, but I was under the impression that "pulling the plug" was against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I am glad that Jason was allowed to make the decision he believed Susan would have wanted free from scrutiny or interference. It strikes me as ironic that this situation has so many similarities to the Teri Schiavo case, yet everyone seems hunky dory with the outcome. I guess it is possible that Susan had an advanced directive, but this article does not make mention of one. It confuses the hell out of me, but not I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[camberne]

This has been a story that's been covered off-and-on around here. They showed the baby on the news yesterday. It just breaks my heart... I'm glad they named the baby after her, though... a fitting tribute.

[jarm]

I'm curious...anyone know how she delivered? Was it naturally or by c-section? I don't want to sound stupid, although I know it's a stupid question. They're making it sound like she had the baby naturally, but how is that possible if she's in a coma?

[laura]

I'd say it's possible/probable (?) that the reason there wasn't an 'issue' is b/c everyone was in agreement. I mean I believe the sticking point in the Shiavo case - or at least the notoriety it created - was that her parents disagreed w/ pulling the plug and offered to pay for her care and take it all on themselves. That wasn't the case here - at least it doesn't say so in the articles listed. Or at least that's my take - admittedly w/ limited knowledge on the subject.

ETA: The article said the baby was delivered via c-section.

[thedoorchick]

There are two differences to me:

1. Susan Torres' condition was rapidly deteriorating, in keeping with a case of advanced melanoma.

2. Susan Torres was on life support; Terri Schiavo was not (here, I'm distinguishing between full life support involving breathing help and a feeding tube).

[mimieliza]

I was under the impression that "pulling the plug" was against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I am glad that Jason was allowed to make the decision he believed Susan would have wanted free from scrutiny or interference. It strikes me as ironic that this situation has so many similarities to the Teri Schiavo case, yet everyone seems hunky dory with the outcome.

I think the difference is that Susan Torres could not breathe on her own. Terri Shaivo could breathe, and her heart was beating on its own, but she needed a feeding tube to deliver food and water.

Anyone with more medical knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong about this, but that's just the way I understood it.


I'm glad the baby was born alive and well, but how horrible that the baby has a 25% chance of developing the cancer. :( As far as the article refering to Susan as "giving birth," I'm sure she had a cesarean, but it's still considered birth, and she still gave birth to her daughter. What an amazing, bittersweet gift.

[BTB]

They're making it sound like she had the baby naturally, but how is that possible if she's in a coma?

About two generations ago, most moms who delivered in hospitals were anesthetized and unconscious or barely conscious during labor and delivery - they woke up a few hours later. On the Glasgow Coma Scale, there is little to distinguish "coma" (which we identify largely by timecourse) from this anesthetic state. It's totally possible to birth while unconscious. Uterine contractions will push the baby out all on their own, no help from mom is actually needed even though most moms do actively participate because it speeds the process considerably. You can also do use forceps or vacuum assist to get a vaginally delivered baby out faster if mom can't help.

In this instance, though, there's nothing to be gained by a vaginal delivery. C-section is quicker and here, it's safer for baby. Mom's safety is sadly not an issue.

[IrishMeg]

It's totally possible to birth while unconscious. Uterine contractions will push the baby out all on their own, no help from mom is actually needed even though most moms do actively participate because it speeds the process considerably. You can also do use forceps or vacuum assist to get a vaginally delivered baby out faster if mom can't help.

I always wondered about that. Thanks, BTB!

[lawyerlee]

That's really interesting, BTB. :) I've been wondering about that stuff, too.

ETA

I appreciate those of you who were aware of them pointing out some distinctions between Susan's case and Teri's case. I wasn't aware of most of those facts. :)

[boilermaker]

I saw on USA Today that the little girl passed away this weekend. So tragic. I was really hoping she would make it after everything her family did to give her life.

USA Today Article (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-12-torres-baby_x.htm)

[BooeyJ2]

SO sad :(

[sheartm7]

Oh, how incredibly sad. :(

I'm curious...anyone know how she delivered? Was it naturally or by c-section? I don't want to sound stupid, although I know it's a stupid question. They're making it sound like she had the baby naturally, but how is that possible if she's in a coma?

The baby was delivered by C-section.

There were no complications during delivery and the baby "is doing well," Justin Torres 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. The infant was delivered via caesarean section, the hospital said.

[Mellow_Water1]

I saw on USA Today that the little girl passed away this weekend. So tragic. I was really hoping she would make it after everything her family did to give her life.

USA Today Article (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-12-torres-baby_x.htm)

So incredibly sad hearing that news. :(

[Delta]

Heartbreaking. :( :( :(

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

That poor family. What a lot to have to go through... :(

[mb1197]

That brings tears to my eyes. How very very sad. :(

[AndreaMMS]

I'm in tears. I'd been following the story and hadn't heard that the baby had died.

It's so sad...so unfair....