On the Road to 2012: An Exclusive Interview with Karen Santorum

9/18/2011

(Page 2 of 3)

In 2008, Rick and Karen welcomed little Isabella to their family. Just four days after her birth, they got the devastating news that Bella has Trisomy 18, a rare and usually fatal genetic disease. Since that moment, they have intensely battled our culture of death, protecting their daughter from being euthanized and fighting for her medical care. Most doctors urge women to abort babies with genetic diseases, and many such infants are euthanized after birth in order to "relieve their suffering."

Listen to Karen talk about Bella, and you'll hear one word over and over: blessing. Rick and Karen want the whole world to know the joy they've found in their sweet angel.

KS: After having Bella I had to relearn how to live my life. Now I'm a blessed mother of a special-needs child. Since her birth, I've learned that God truly has a reason for everything. Like every one of us, God has a purpose for her. Bella has made all of us grow in our faith like never before, made us more virtuous and shown us God's love and mercy. Her life is a very happy and joyful life. Bella is an angel. I truly believe I am in the care of a saint.

We are so blessed to be her parents and her family. Yes, there's also a painful side of the journey because you're fighting for her life, to have her treated with the same dignity as every other child.

JH: What would you say to those facing the possibility of a child with Trisomy 18 and wondering whether they can handle it? Maybe a woman tempted to abort a baby she is convinced will only know suffering?

KS: It doesn't make any sense to me that we choose death over love. You never lose with love. It's never made any sense that when a doctor says your child has whatever defect, he then says "let's kill the baby." If the doctor said that about your five year-old you'd be outraged! As parents we're wired to do everything possible to save our child. Why does that not apply to these sweet babies in the womb who need our love and care? Just simply bring your child into the world and love your child. You don't know what God has planned.

Bella is the greatest "burden" I've ever had. I wouldn't trade the blessings that have come with her for anything in the world.

JH: Is it safe to say that special-needs children and their parents will have a fierce advocate in the White House under President Santorum?

KS: Oh, absolutely! I have a real fire in the belly about this issue. It's heartbreaking what these families go through. I was a NICU nurse for years and I thought I understood, but in fact, I was clueless. Now I know; now I get it. Until you're in it every day, you just don't know.

I'm on a mission to get every obstetrician and geneticist in the country to change the way they think and especially the way they talk about genetic diseases like Trisomy 18. When a doctor says your child has a "lethal diagnosis" that is "incompatible with life" - those words are toxic. Those words lead to death. Doctors need to stop saying those words.

I can't tell you how many battles we've fought with doctors who wouldn't even call Bella by her name. These children are denied the dignity they deserve as human beings. Parents should not have to fight for their children to receive medical care. This is why it's critical that we get rid of Obamacare. Special-needs kids will be seen as lives not worth living and they'll be the first to go.

We're grateful that Bella now has a good team of doctors who take great care of her and she's doing great! I love Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Other hospitals we've been to didn't even want to try to give Bella the care or help she needed - she wasn't worth it to them. At CHP, their philosophy is, "Just give the babies a chance." Amen!

JH: Years before Bella was born, you and Rick experienced a "crisis pregnancy" and you lost your son, Gabriel.* Again, you battled the culture of death. It was the same time Rick was fighting in the U.S. Senate to pass the Partial-birth Abortion Ban. You were living exactly the scenario the abortion peddlers point to as proof that we "need" abortion.

KS: Before Gabriel we always had picture-perfect pregnancies. Then to have a baby with a fatal defect - that's how the doctors say it - right at the time of the Partial-birth abortion debate, that was no coincidence. God blessed us with the gift of "why." As though He said, "Here's why I'm doing this." We saw the fruits of our son's life and the significance of it.

Before ...
- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Rick Santorum, Karen Santorum, Presidency, campaign, 2012 election, Republican candidates, Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Jennifer Hartline

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1 - 10 of 10 Comments

Theresa H.
1 year ago
Would that all American homes had the spirit of the Santorum Family! Rick Santorum gained a little ground in the FL straw pole today, but he is still quite a bit behind. Nonetheless, I'm supporting him...and pray God's will be done for our Country! (Happy the people whose God is the Lord! [Ps 144:15]) I also think we do well to emphasize the Natural Law when we are debating with non-Catholics out and about.... Comparatively few people understand this "Law" that all Americans and all peoples are obligated to follow by "nature's God." Is it any wonder that we are in such dire straights, and activist judges have started removing the Ten Commandments at the bidding of a few who hate God, midst the more-or-less silence of most of the rest of us? It is time for us to stand up and peacefully protest!
"G.G." a pro-life Catholic
1 year ago
Thank you Robert for expressing my beliefs...From this moment on I will learn all I can
about Rick Santorum and support him....After viewing Fox News yesterday, I knew that
Rick Santorum stood above the other candidates with his faith and honesty...He was not afraid to express his belief in GOD...I pray that American Catholics will not allow
themselves to be led astray again as they did in voting for Obama..My prayers for Rick Santorum and his family....
MarkM
1 year ago
Is R.Santorum Catholic? I just don't understand why this website for Catholics is making such a hard polical push for a candidate. Seems like we shouldnt be led astray by politics, but still Im curious why the pseudo-endorsement.
David Carlon
1 year ago
I don't know Mr. Santorum but I suspect he is a decent man which will disqualify him from serious consideration for POTUS. That being said, it appears the Lord has passed judgment on this wicked and depraved nation, as the reptile heretics posing as Christians are transparently clueless as leaders... "What do you mean by crushing my people, and grinding down the faces of the poor? says the Lord, the GOD of hosts." The atheist liberals murder the unborn and the fascist and Christian in name only republicans starve and murder our children in endless wars of profit... their avarice and lust is never satiated.
Robert Burford
1 year ago
They are too good for politics They are a model couple of good Catholic values. It is unfortunate that my State has a primary so late in the season.He will be forced out by lack of campaign funding or resolve because his message of hope will be sound bited out of existance by the campaign advertisements of those he opposes.He may not win but he will have my vote and prayerful support. The important thing to note is that he will influence the attitude and issues of the election, because the real electorate out in the heartland want sacramental marriage between a man and a woman.They are offended by the fact that Planned Parenthood benefits from tax dollars. They are offended by abortion. Because of their lack of "ego" and sevant attitude I will vote and financially support them if I get the opportunity.God Bless them!
Linda
1 year ago
Everything you said, Robert, is exactly how I believe. Thank you for saying it
so well. This article just sealed it for me. My prayers will be constant for him
(them) as they are completing the call that they have prayed for for a year.
I believe with our prayers and our actions we can open doors for him to be heard, and that his torch for truth spoken in clarity will begin to transform his listeners in to believers as well.
Liz
1 year ago
Should have mentioned that Karen Santorum has written a wonderful book for children called Everyday Graces - I bought them a couple years back for my grandchildren and this is book is truly awesome. Both Rick and his wife are special blessings - we need more people like them in our world today.
Liza Koon
1 year ago
LOVED this article!!!! I did not know about Bella!! What a beautiful witness they are to the beauty of the cross. Can we even dare dream of such a righteous president and first lady! Thank you for this article. Their story needs to get out there!! I was so excited about the Bob Turner win today in such a liberal district. I know Santorum would win if people start ignoring the polls and naysayers. More articles like this are what we need!! Thank you again!!
Donald Steinfelt
1 year ago
Awesome Video! Has my prayers and my vote.

Sent with a prayer.

Don S.
Robert
1 year ago
Dear fellow christians and catholics,

Rick Santorum can help our country repair its moral compass.

I ask you to support his campaign for president. If all you do is "Not vote for Obama" you will be supporting Santorum. I am a conservative republican from Texas and I support Rick because of his pro-life, pro family- traditional marriage, a balanced budget( not adding to the amount of debt passed on to our children), pro legal immigration, anti illegal immigration, pro business positions. It is clear from the article above that he is a terrific father and husband.

Please support his campaign if for no other reason to strengthen the weight his views hold within the republican party and the whomever the nominee may be.

Please support his campaign as you will be strengthening the voice of the unborn.
Please support his campaign as you will be strengthening the voice of legal immigrants. Please support his campaign as you will be strengthening the voice that marriage is between one man and one woman.

I pray that more men like Rick Santorum run for public office and uproot the evil that permeates within the walls of White House as they support abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration, free contraceptives, anti christian rhetoric, sex ed for our children based on their secular beliefs, and free handouts to keep the poor dependent on the government with no hope of or need for personal responsibility.

I support Rick's campaign because he lives the Catholic faith he practices. He is not afraid to call himself a catholic and act like a catholic.

I have never met Rick nor his family. I have studied his positions and have concluded, I have spent a small amount of my God given treasure in support of a man who's platform supports the teaching of our heavenly father.

My prayer is that american catholic examine vote for people who will uphold the teachings of our Lord.

"...may God's will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven...."

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