I just saw a post on CNN that Susan Anne Catherine Torres, the 5-week-old infant daughter of Susan M. Torres, died last night, 11 September 2005. It’s confirmed on the Susan Torres website, as well. As you may or may not know, Susan Torres, a 26-year-old researcher at the National Institutes of Health, suffered a stroke in May 2005 after melanoma spread to her brain. She was kept alive, however, so that she could give birth to her fetus. Susan Anne Catherine Torres was born August 2nd, and appeared to be healthy, with no signs of cancer having crossed the placenta. According to the news reports, the infant died due to heart failure after emergency surgery to repair a perforated intestine. Apparently this condition can be common among premature babies.

This is an incredibly sad story, and even the happy ending turned out to be not-so-happy. My thoughts go out to Jason Torres, the bereaved husband and father.