Faith, Well-Wishers Sustained Family of Brain-Dead Woman

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 3, 2005 — -- On a day of extreme joy and sadness, the Torres family says it was their faith that pulled them through.

Less than 24 hours after the Torres family welcomed tiny Susan Anne Catherine Torres into their family, they said goodbye to the newborn baby's mother.

Susan Rollin Torres, 26, had been brain dead and on life support for the past three months. The Torres family kept her alive so the baby in her womb might live. The infant -- born nearly three months premature but healthy -- was delivered Tuesday. Jason Torres ended his wife's life support today at Virginia Hospital Center, where she had been cared for over the past several months.

"This is obviously a bittersweet time for our family," said Jason's brother, Justin Torres. "We are thrilled by the baby but this is a very difficult day."

Justin was somber but hopeful today as he spoke for the family with a panel of doctors from the Virginia Hospital Center. He said the family was drawing strength from cards of support, prayers, and their Catholic faith.

"I couldn't imagine going through something like this without believing in prayer," Justin said. "From the beginning, we knew that two things would get us through to the baby's birth: God's providence and Susan's determination."

When asked what he would tell his niece about her mother, Jason smiled and said, "One doesn't want to invest the poor kid with too many expectations, but I would tell her that her mother was one of the toughest human beings I ever met."

The baby girl was named after her mother, Justin said. He joked about how the infant's father avoided discussing the newborn's name with the journalists who have followed the family's saga for months. "[He] kept that a secret from everyone until after the baby was born. Mostly to fake all of you guys out," Justin told reporters.

One doctor who helped care for baby Susan after her birth couldn't hide her smile while talking about the 1-day-old girl.