Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has announced the end of his campaign today despite a recent rise in his popularity on the trail. The news comes after his 3-year old daughter, Bella, suffered a bout of illness over the weekend and was hospitalized. Santorum took a mini-break from campaigning over the holiday and spent time with his family, but was expected to return today. A call to Romney to concede changed all that.

The illness is believed to be connected to a genetic disorder the little girl was born with, Trisomy 18, which is caused by an extra 18th chromosome. The disease can be fatal and affects a surprisingly high amount of children–an estimated 1 out of every 3,000. It is similar to Down Syndrome but affects a different set of cells.

Aside from visible physical disorders, Trisomy 18 also causes a number of internal problems, including heart defects and organ issues. There are no specific rules about the disease, as it can range from mild to severe depending on the person. At three years old, Bella has proved to be a fighter and an exception to the rule, as many children afflicted with the disease don’t make it out of infancy. One doctor says the oldest child he knows of that suffers from the disorder is only 13.

Twitter users tweeted about the news today and offered thoughts and prayers to Santorum and little Bella.