August 5, 2005
Susan Torres was 26-years old.
She had cancer and then a stroke which led to flat brain waves.
In other words, she was clinically dead.
But Susan Torres was also pregnant and she wanted to give life to her baby more than live, herself.
And so she was kept on life support until doctors thought the baby was old enough to survive outside her mother.
Three days ago, Susan's baby was born at 27 weeks gestation.
Doctors believe she will be fine.
The next day, Susan Torres was disconnected from the machines that kept her bodily functions going and she died.
This is a perfect example of what can happen when life, not death, is the primary concern.
Unlike other cases which have made the news, the family of Susan Torres made life-affirming decisions.
They could not save Susan, but they could save her baby.
And they did.
This is the answer to tough questions about life and death issues.
Doctors and the family made pro-life decisions in difficult circumstances.
And now the story of a heroic mother and what she did to give her daughter a chance at life will be told for generations to come.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
