Inside Stricken Mother, a Race Between Life and Death\Washington Post


This is a story about a woman names Susan Torres. She is 26 years old and was struck down with cancer while pregnant. She is now clinically brain dead but they are keeping her on support long enough for the baby to be viable. I am posting this so that maybe someone else will not just excuse away symptoms. If you have pain or if you just don't feel right act. Get opinions, second, third, forth.... Don't stop until they can give you a name for what is going on and tell you how to make the symptoms go away..

And I am posting it here on the debate because we all know how a story line like this can turn into a huge debate......

By Kaye on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 07:59 am:

This is terribly sad

The chances of the baby making it to full term are very very slim, due to the cancers rapid growth rate. Some premie babies are just fine, but that is not the norm. I hope and pray that this is a miracle baby and not just the start of a very very long road.

By Missmudd on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 01:51 pm:

Wow, so sad. I know that there is probably going to be some debate on this, but I personally would want to give the baby every chance to make it. I dont think it is inhumane to try to continue the mothers life in the hope of having her child survive.

Telling the 2yo sibling that mommy was sleeping at the hospital gave me the willies tho. Not a good thing to be telling a 2 yo, what is that poor little guy going to think when she passes on? I think something like mommy is very very sick and she is getting ready to go to heaven would be a little more appropriate.

By Emily7 on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 02:33 pm:

As a mother I would want my dh to do the same thing, I would want my baby to have a chance to live.

By Amecmom on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 05:42 pm:

Oh my God! I don't see the debate here at all! They're doing everything they can to save a life - a little baby's life ... If anything, I think it's terrible that the financial costs will be so high.
Who would think - such general feelings of being unwell could be a brain tumor!
Thanks for posting this Bobbie. It does make you think you hhave to be a little more aggressive in advocating your own healthcare.
I HOPE there is a deviation here from good and accepted medical practice and the family can recover some money through a suit.
I would think failure to diagnose brain cancer would pay something toward the costs this family will incurr in keeping Susan alive and in the healthcare costs for the baby - should they be so lucky that she makes it.
Ame

By Amecmom on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 05:51 pm:

Can I even say this here? I made a donation online through pay pal. Anyone who wants the site can do a search, or email me at a m chiera @optonline.net (no spaces)
Ame

Can't see that this is against the rules - if it is you guys know what to do.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 07:11 pm:

One of the thoughts that has been going through my mind is that if this child survives - and I pray it does - what will they tell the child? Surely, with all this publicity, some "kind" person is going to tell him/her that your mom was kept alive on machines so you could be born.

It is clear that this family is totally in agreement on this decision, and that they are carrying out Susan Torres' wishes. More power to them. I hope it works.

Bobbie is right - if you think you have a medical problem, and the doctor says "don't worry", and the problem goesn't go away - see another doc, and another, and another. Melanoma is a particularly nasty form of cancer, one which can metastisize easily and stay hidden for long periods. Given her medical history, I am very surprised that one of the doctors didn't suggest a scan to see what was going on.

Whether there was malpractice (or rather, what is called "a breach of the standard of care") is something only an expert doctor and expert lawyer can determine. I am sure that by now the family has gotten a load of legal and medical advice.

Ame, it is one thing to give people the opportunity to contact you or find the site if they want to. It is quite another to post a link to a solicitation/donation site. (And I'm glad you broke up your e-mail address to avoid skimming/spamming.)

By Crystal915 on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 09:27 pm:

I read this a few days ago, and really tried to think "What if it was me?" What if my DH had to make that decision, what would I want him to do? I really think I would want him to do the same thing, to at least give the baby a fighting chance. As far as discussing it with the toddler at home, wow... what a hard thing to do. I have no idea what I'd do there, it's just such a strange position to be in.

By Marcia on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:44 pm:

Actually, the whole things sounds like it happened within a week or 2. She was pregnant, and at a point in her pregnancy when feeling crappy would be very normal. I would doubt that any doctor would send a pregnant patient for a ton of tests for nausea and a bad headache. I would think that if it continued on they might, but it had just been several days, from what was written. It says she started feeling sick in late April, and "died" on May 7.

The whole thing is very sad. I would want them to do the same thing if it was me.

The father is living a nightmare right now. I'm sure that telling an innocent 2 year old his mommy is sleeping is much easier on him than having to deal with a grieving toddler, a dying wife and an unborn, at risk baby.

I pray that the baby survives, does not have cancer, and thrives!

By Kaye on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 10:38 am:

I too pray that the baby survives and is healthy. I would think if the child ended up with problems (due to being premie) that he would always second guess that choice. Hoefully all will be well!

By Amecmom on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 02:08 pm:

Thanks, Ginny. I'm glad what I posted is ok. Learned about breaking up the address from fellow mommies here.
Ame

By Missmudd on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:56 pm:

Just an update on this story. Read in Newsweek that the baby is now 26 weeks gestatation and while way premie is now viable. Dh has felt the baby kick. Thought all of u might want to know.

By Emily7 on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 08:07 pm:

Thank you Kristin

By Missmudd on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 12:41 pm:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/04/AR2005080402091.html

just an update on the story, sorry I dont know how to make fancy link thingies

By Amecmom on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 01:55 pm:

Thanks, Kristen. My husband told me they'd delivered the little girl, but it was nice to see pics. It was hard not to cry.
Ame

By Emily7 on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 06:16 pm:

Torres Baby
Thank you for posting that, I pray that all turns out for this family.

By Jann on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 01:34 pm:

The baby died. So incredibly sad.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/12/braindead.pregnancy.ap/index.html

By Kernkate on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 02:13 pm:

Susan Anne Catherine Torres
I did a link for you. This is so sad

By Emily7 on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 02:15 pm:

I feel so bad for the Torres family, it is such a tragedy to first lose Susan & now the baby. I will pray for them.

By Amecmom on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 02:42 pm:

She's with her mommy ...
Ame

By Kim on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 03:56 pm:

I cannot even imagine th pain this family has to endure!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 04:11 pm:

That is heartbreaking.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 06:58 pm:

That is so sad.