Trisomy 18 and 13: More Children Like Bella Santorum Survive

By CARRIE GANN , ABC News Medical Unit
April 9, 2012

"Study author Dr. Chris Feudtner said the analysis, published today in the journal Pediatrics, shows that the conventional thinking that the disease is lethal is not totally accurate."

..."the study reflects a shift in philosophy on how to treat children who have such severe genetic disorders."

..."Thankfully, this has changed in recent years. Not only do some of these children survive, they survive with a pretty good quality of life," Marion said."

..."A similar trend happened in the 1960s and '70s for children with Down syndrome, who were once thought to be disabled beyond hope."

..."We don't know how well these kids can do until we give them every opportunity to do their very best," McCandless said."

PEDIATRICS - OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

Abstract of publication: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/04/04/peds.2011-2139.abstract