IN A day of emotional highs and heartbreaking lows, Jason Torres yesterday gained a daughter but bid farewell to his brain- dead wife after she was kept alive on a life support machine for three months while their baby developed.

Mr Torres, 26, from Virginia, caressed his new daughter, named Susan in honour of the mother who she will never know, after she was delivered 13 weeks prematurely by Caesarean section.

His wife, also 26, who had worked as a vaccine researcher at the respected National Institutes of Health, was three-and-a-half-months pregnant when she collapsed from a cancer-related stroke in May.

She had been kept on a ventilator at hospital in Arlington, Virginia, ever since, with no prospect of recovery.

Last night, she was pronounced dead after her life support was finally switched off.

“We thank all those who prayed and provided support for Susan, the baby and our family,” her husband stated yesterday. Despite the loss of his wife, it was “a wonderful day,” he said.

“We especially thank God for giving us little Susan. My wife’s courage will never be forgotten,” Mr Torres added in an e-mail sent to thousands of supporters worldwide.

Susan Anne Catherine Torres was born at 27 weeks of gestation, measuring 13.5 inches.

Last month, the foetus passed the 24th week of development - the earliest point at which doctors felt that the baby would have a reasonable chance of survival.

Doctors had hoped to hold off for as long as possible before delivering her, in order to give her the greatest chance of survival, but decided to operate late on Tuesday.

The baby was being kept in an incubator in the neo-natal unit of the Virginia Hospital Centre and, despite her early arrival and delicate dimensions, was said by her father to be “doing well”.

A statement issued by the hospital said: “The entire staff and administration, especially the physicians and nurses caring for Susan Torres and Baby Girl Torres, are delighted with the successful delivery.”

Mr Torres left his job as a commercial printing salesman following his wife’s collapse and has slept at her hospital bedside each night. He first felt the baby kick in June.

Justin Torres, who is Jason’s brother and has acted as a spokesman for the family throughout their ordeal, said last month: “She would have wanted us to fight for this baby, there’s no doubt in our minds.”

Susan is a sister to the couple’s two-year-old son Peter.

The family’s story has touched the hearts of well-wishers worldwide, including dozens of Britons, who have flooded Mr Torres with messages of hope and donations to help meet the cost of medical bills, which were running at $8,000 (£4,600) a day.

A website set up by the family has raised more than $400,000 (£232,000) in donations that have included a cheque from a US soldier serving in Iraq and an envelope full of coins from a ten-year-old boy who emptied his piggy bank.

As time wore on, Mr Torres steeled himself for the grief of losing his spouse, but looked forward to welcoming new life into the world.

“As you move closer it’s sad and hopeful,” his brother said last month.

“It’s week-to-week, or more accurately, day-to-day right now. Her cancer clearly is progressing, but she seems to be fighting all that much harder to give the baby a chance.”

Ms Torres had melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.

The tumours that caused her brain to shut down spread to her liver, lungs and other vital organs and doctors had been monitoring it closely to ensure it did not reach the placenta.

They operated only on deciding the baby might have been at risk.

“All the days from here on out are a gift,” said Justin Torres just weeks ago. “We know that by some legal standards she’s considered dead already, but we don’t believe it. All you have to do is spend any time in the room with Susan, her doctors, her family or Jason. She’s the strongest person in that room.”

Dr Archie Macpherson of the Virginia Hospital Centre said last night: “We determined that the risk of continuing Mrs Torres’ pregnancy had become greater than the risk of delivering the baby early.

“After the delivery, Mrs Torres was returned to the Intensive Care Unit, where her condition continued to be monitored.

“Her husband made the decision this morning to withdraw all life support systems.”

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