The Susan Torres Fund

Last week, I blogged about Susan Torres, the sister-in-law of Justin Torres of The Fact Is. 17 weeks into pregnancy, she had a stroke, and is now brain-dead, on life support. They are trying to sustain her until the baby is big enough to be born, in early July. There is now a fund set up for tax-deductible contributions. Here's the address, and the details of the situation follow in the extended post.

>The Susan M. Torres Fund
>P.O. Box 34105
>Washington, D.C. 20043-0105

June 16, 2005: For a more recent, updated post, please click here.

>Dear Friends:
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>Last week, you received an email about Susan Torres and her unborn baby, who are both fighting for their lives. This week, we are asking for your tax-deductible donations to assist in this cause. Can you help "pay for a day" of care for Susan and her baby?
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>That's our goal, to raise money for the unreimbursed cost of all 56 planned days of Susan's care-and if possible, for the care of the baby after that. If you can make a donation of $1,500-the amount per day of care not covered by the family's insurance-we can reach that goal. But any amount is incredibly helpful and gratefully appreciated.
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>To make a tax-deductible donation to the Susan M. Torres Fund, send a check to:
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>The Susan M. Torres Fund
>P.O. Box 34105
>Washington, D.C. 20043-0105
>
>Friends of the Torres family have established the Susan M. Torres Fund to help defray the enormous medical bills that this family faces. Though the family has some limited medical insurance coverage, unreimbursed costs are expected to run in excess of $1,500 per day for Susan alone-not to mention care for the baby, God willing, after July 11.
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>
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>Susan M. (Rollin) Torres
>May 12, 2002
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>If you're receiving this email for the first time, here's the story. On May 6, Susan Torres-a 26-year-old vaccine researcher at NIH; mother of a two-year-old son, Peter; graduate of the University of Dallas; and parishioner at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Alexandria-collapsed of a brain hemorrhage. She was rushed to the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, where she has been diagnosed with stage four melanoma and is brain dead with no hope of recovery.
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>Right now, doctors are fighting to keep her alive through artificial respiration and other means until at least July 11 (the feast of St. Benedict), to give her 18-week-old baby a fighting chance at life.
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>Your prayers are helping: Last Friday, an ultrasound confirmed that the baby remains healthy, and Susan's situation has stabilized as she continues to regulate her own blood pressure and heart rate.
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>Contributions to the Susan M. Torres Fund are tax-deductible and the Torres and Rollin families are extraordinarily grateful to the group Faith and Action, which has generously agreed to administer the fund under its benevolence account. Faith and Action is a not-for-profit religious/charitable corporation determined to be tax exempt under IRC section 501(c)3.
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>We hope that you will be able to make a donation to help this family. Any amount is appreciated. But mostly, we hope that you will continue to pray for Susan, Jason, Peter, and Baby Torres, that God brings forth the best possible outcome to this terrible tragedy.
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>Justin Torres

June 16, 2005: For a more recent, updated post, please click here.