"Miracle Baby" Dies

The Daily News visited the premature baby of the traffic agent killed by an out-of-control van last week. Sean Michael Justin Sanz was born 2 months premature, "but doctors say he's a fighter and is expected to live." The father, Rafael Sanz, is mourning his wife Donnette's sudden death, "She was looking forward to the birth so much. That's all she would talk about was her son."

But he reflected on how an estimated 30 people lifted a school bus to free her, "If Donnette were here now, she'd be really happy that so many New Yorkers tried to save her. I want to thank them too. They always will be in my heart." The van's driver, who did not have a license, was charged with criminally negligent homicide.

Update Now it's reported that baby Sean Michael has passed away; the News reports a traffic agents union official said, "They just pulled the respirator. They might bury him with the mother." Too sad--Donnette Sanz's funeral is planned for Monday.

And the Daily News had featured Sean Michael on its cover, but now the cover appears to have reverted to a version without him on it.

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By Jen Chung in News on August 22, 2008 12:45 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Damn damn. There went my day :(

mihow

Jen: Someone earlier this week (one of the morning shows) reported that she and the baby died.

Guess it's better they screwed up and not the Daily News since it's on the cover and all.

No matter, a terrible ending to a terribly tragic story. :[

theevilone

Oh damn, that is sad.

Jen Chung

I don't think the News screwed up--I think they had interviewed the father and doctors yesterday/earlier this week and ran the story today. (Last week, reports were that the baby was in NICU under observation.) It's just a sad coincidence the baby died today.

Tgirl

how sad...God bless him

[1] these little ones can often do remarkably well. My seven year old nephew was born 3 mos. premature, weighing under a pound and a half, and he is just great now. So, you never know.

mihow

I'm curious, did the Daily News screw up? I haven't read the article or anything because I'm admittedly lazy, (just going by what was reported the day this happened by the talking heads on the TeeVee) but did they screw up and say that the baby was alive when it indeed wasn't? Or did the TeeVee people mess up in the beginning?

I'm confused. But that's probably obvious and I should probably read the links and figure this out like a big girl.

smitty

UGH! Sad.

NYC Stef

Oh, that poor family.

mihow

I don't even know what to say. Poor little person. :[

WorksInDUMBO

oh how absolutely terrible. There's a link on the Daily News front page now.

That poor father. What a heartbreaking story.

Jen Chung

OH NO--mihow, the Daily News is now reporting the baby died... there's no link to information.

mihow

Holy shit! When this story first broke, they were saying the baby died! I am so happy to hear that SOMETHING good came out of this!

nicemarmot

@#1 : 2 months is not all that premature nowadays. I would be more worried that the baby suffered injuries in the crash that killed his mother.