A friend of mine from work passed this story along to me today, as she knows I’m a Rick Santorum supporter. My co-worker’s husband is an old high school friend of Brad Smith, the father featured in this story, whose daughter was also born with the same genetic disorder as Sen. Santorum’s daughter, Bella Santorum: Trisomy 18. From the story in the U.K. Daily Mail:

When a Michigan family was looking for answers to help their sick daughter in 2010, the last place they expected sound medical advice was from a man who would one day be running for president.

But Brad and Jesi Smith found answers from then-Senator Rick Santorum to help their then 22-month-old daughter Faith.

The smiling brunette girl suffers from the same genetic disorder – Trisomy 18 – as Mr Santorum’s youngest daughter Bella.

The Rochester Hills, Michigan family told the Detroit Free Press about their incredible encounter with Mr Santorum two years ago, and the advice the family claims saved their daughter’s life.

When Faith was born, doctors said the outlook was bleak. She was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder that causes heart defects, kidney problems, delayed growth, and a small head.

Mrs Smith, a radio station sales manager, told the paper that one doctor told her to put away funds for the funeral, as most children die either in infancy or as a toddler.

‘I said, absolutely not, I’m saving for her wedding,’ she told the Detroit Free Press.

After switching hospitals to the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, prognosis looked better, as doctors were eager to learn from the case.

In the spring of 2010, the Smiths were looking forward to meeting with Mr Santorum, as he was the only person they knew with a child who suffered from the same disease.

They spoke with him about their daughter Faith, and he showed them an article he had written on his BlackBerry about his own daughter Bella. His wife Karen talked to them throughout his speech that evening, the Detroit Free Press said.

But seven months later, Faith’s health was declining. By chance, Mr Santorum was in town for an unrelated fundraiser and came into Mr Smith’s radio station to tape a show.

Mr Smith approached Mr Santorum, asking his advice for his sick daughter. According to Mr Smith, the senator said they needed to get Faith tested for sleep apnea – where someone stops breathing in their sleep – and get her a breathing machine.

He said that sleep apnea was particularly precarious for Trisomy 18 children.

Mr Smith expressed his doubts, and said Mr Santorum then got stern, saying: ‘Look, you need to do this. If you don’t, you’re going to lose your daughter.’

This is truly heart-warming, and I urge you to go read the whole story at the Daily Mail. I think it also speaks volumes that Mr. Santorum hasn’t tried to use this to his advantage, and I would have probably never known about this had it not been for my co-worker sharing this with me.

Rick Santorum is the real deal, and this is just further reaffirmation for me that I’ve made the right choice in backing him in the 2012 primary.

I want to end this with a beautiful pic of him and his beautiful daughter, Bella.

What a wonderful family, and a very special dad.