In an exclusive interview with The Brody File, former Sen. Rick Santorum and his wife Karen open up about losing their son Gabriel, who died 15 years ago. Gabriel lived just two hours.
The soon-to-be presidential contender and his wife take us through their heartbreak, as well as the process of closure when they decided to bring Gabriel home after he had died.
This interview was conducted at their home in Northern Virginia. This is the first time Karen Santorum has done a television interview since 2006. My television piece on Santorum’s presidential aspirations runs this Wednesday on "The 700 Club."
Watch Santorum talk about praying for his enemies here. The 30-minute Brody File show on Rick Santorum is here.
Mandatory Courtesy: CBN News/The Brody File
On the death of their son Gabriel after living just two hours:
They also talk about the book Karen wrote called, “Letters to Gabriel,” which they say has been a blessing to other parents.
Rick Santorum: I’ll never forget what he said. He looked at us and said ‘your son has a fatal defect and is going to die.’ Just like that and we were obviously just crushed.
Karen Santorum: In the end, God wanted him back but what I know with all my heart and soul is that every baby has a purpose, a God given purpose and every life has value.
On “Letters to Gabriel” book:
Karen: Hundreds of people have responded with letters and calls and we see them at events... It has helped parents to choose life. It’s helped them to give their children a chance. It’s helped to give them guidance and comfort and I believe with all my heart that that was God’s plan.
On bringing Gabriel home after he died:
Rick: We wanted them to know that there was a baby and that his life was precious and that baby in the womb was real. It doesn’t just come out and all of a sudden it’s a baby. But that they had a little brother and they would remember him.
Karen: I knew from all the years of being a nurse that when a baby would die, it was so crucially important in the grieving process that you held that baby. We had a room in the hospital and that’s where parents would go for times like that.
And we encouraged the children to be there that it was so important for the parents to hold that baby and have time with it. And it’s a very critical part of the grieving process where that initial step of saying goodbye, I love you, or whatever helps with the grieving.