His youngest child, a 3-year-old daughter, Belle, has been ill. She was born with a life-threatening, rare genetic condition called Trisomy 18. She was just recently released from a hospital in Virginia with an illness related to her disorder.

"In ending his bid for the GOP 2012 nomination Santorum described his daughter as 'a fighter and doing exceptionally well.' But he added her illness 'did cause us to think about our role as parents. This was a time for prayer and thought this past weekend. Just as it was when we decided to get in this race,' he said."

Rick Santorum bows out of 2012 presidential race - CSMonitor.com