Death and life

Jason Torres rushed his wife Susan to the hospital last May. She was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma and declared brain dead. Because she was pregnant, she was kept on life support in hopes that her unborn child could be saved.

On Tuesday morning, baby girl Susan Anne Catherine Torres was delivered by Caesarean section at Virginia Hospital Center in northern Virginia. She was born at 27 weeks, 1 pound 13 ounces, and 13.5 inches.

The Washington Post reports that yesterday, after Father Paul Scalia (note by Penitens: Fr. Scalia is the parochial vicar at her parish and son of Justice Antonin Scalia) gave her last rites and prayed the Hail Holy Queen, life support was discontinued and the new mother died.

A fund to help defray medical expenses has been set up at www.susantorresfund.org

Funeral arrangements are pending.

UPDATE: Catholic News Service gives a report on the funeral (which was held August 6) with questionable quotes attributed to Fr. Scalia.

FINAL UPDATE: September 12, 2005 - Baby girl Susan Anne Catherine Torres rejoined her mother this morning in eternity. Requiescant in pace.