U.S. Edition
(CNN) - Rick Santorum's three-year-old daughter Isabella, who suffers from a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18, was admitted to a Philadelphia hospital Saturday.
In a statement, Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley said the GOP presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania senator would cancel campaign events on Sunday morning. "Rick and his wife Karen are admitting their daughter Bella to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia this evening," Gidley said. "The campaign will cancel Rick's upcoming Sunday morning Florida campaign schedule. However, Rick intends to return to Florida and resume the campaign schedule as soon as is possible."
On Sunday, Team Santorum said the candidate would remain in the hospital Sunday afternoon and that his scheduled events would proceed with surrogates.
Santorum was slated to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" and to make stops in the state ahead of Florida's primary Tuesday.
Trisomy 18 is caused by extra material from chromosome 18, and is three times more common in girls than boys. Half of patients born with the condition do not survive past the first week of life, according to the National Institutes of Health. Patients who do survive past the first week experience serious medical and developmental problems.
On his campaign website, Santorum has a page devoted to his daughter, including a video in which the candidate describes the girl as the "center of the universe for our family."
"Our youngest daughter Isabella Maria, who we call Bella, is a very special girl who needs lot of care," Santorum says in the video. "When she was born we knew something was wrong but we didn't know what it was. It wasn't until five days later that they came back and told Karen and me that she had a disorder called Trisomy 18, which is similar to Down's syndrome."
Santorum describes feeling angry after doctors told him and his wife to prepare for Bella's death in the first days of her life.
"We're going to not focus on her dying; we're going to focus on her living," Santorum says in the video.
Hope she is ok. Wish the family well.
As much as I disagree with your politics...but sincerely understand how difficult this is for your family. I hope she will pull through.
Hoping that your daughter gets better. God Bless.
I will pray for strength for your family, and may the doctors have the knowledge to help. Gods speed.
I'll be thinking of and praying for Bella and the Santorum family. This sort of thing transcends politics.
I wish her the very best! I also wish every child in America had access to good healthcare.
That is why women should not have children when they are middle aged, particularly if they already have umpteen other children. People involved i this sort of irresponsibility should certainly not be considered for president.
Rick, go home and take care of your child. You are wasting your time and your donors money. Take care of your family.
I hope that we can all wait until a later time to make Rick Santorum jokes, snide comments, and criticisms.
Right now, let him be a dad of a sick child, rather than the polarizing political figure that most of us know him as.
bella will be in our thoughts and prayers
Hoping she gets well!
Since Santorum has a nice government pension paid for with our tax dollars he does not have to worry about health insurance like the rest of us. What do you think something like this would do to the average American Rick?
You don't care.
Hope she makes it out OK.
May the Lord Jesus Christ keep the baby safe.Santorum keep faith and hold on, our God will not let you down.Bella will blossom into a beautiful flower. Amen. best wishes Azmat
Of all the candidates I'm not voting for, I really respect Senator Santorum. My heart and prayers go to him and his family.
Best Wishes and sincere prayers for Bella's quick recovery-
The kid must have done something evil. Kids just don't get sick, right Ricky? She's being punished! Sanatorium is a nutbag.
While i do not think Santorum is the best candidate for President, his example to us all is noteworthy. He definitely has his priorities straight.
Such a heartbreaking story. Though I might be a Democrat, and not a Santorum fan or supporter politically, I am a father myself – my sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to Bella and her entire family. It's always uplifting and encouraging to hear how some parents respond with boundless hope and fierce determination when faced with such difficulty affecting their children. Stay strong, Santorum family. All the best.
Hey my name is keshia just pray ever day an nite everthing going be ok god is the key to all answers in her condition i will keep her n my prayer remember she is a angel of god an his angels is watching over her
My thoughts and prayers are with Bella and the Santorum family!
Asking for prayers for Rick Santorum's little 3 yr old daughter. She is in the hospital.
Rick I am praying for your daughter to get well, and praying for your family, I really like to hear you on the debates, we need for people like you that puts jesus first in there lives. I to love jesus and pray that you WIN this race. you have my vote you care for what the people need, I will watch for you in tx. you have allot of love to give. we need you and jesus back into the white house. GOD BLESS YOU.
This is a very sad story. Although I do not intend on voting for Rick Santorum, I wish him and his family all the best through this difficult time.
we are praying for Bella and you are in our thoughts..