Septuplet Loses Her Fight to Live : Bonnie Marie Dies of Same Lung Disease That Killed 2 Brothers

Bonnie Marie Frustaci, the septuplet who for so long beat the odds against her survival, died Sunday afternoon of the same ailment that caused the death of two of her brothers.

“Bonnie Marie lasted a week longer than they gave her,” said Sam Frustaci in a statement released at a press conference. “She fought long and hard. I can honestly say she was a real fighter, possessed of tremendous spirit. She joins her brothers and sister in heaven.”

Hyaline Membrane Disease

The 19-day-old infant died at 12:25 p.m. in the newborn intensive care unit of Childrens Hospital of Orange County of “cardiopulmonary failure and arrest due to severe hyaline membrane disease,” said hospital spokesman Doug Wood.

Patti Frustaci, a 30-year-old Riverside school teacher, had spent the morning with Bonnie Marie, while her husband, who works as a salesman for a Buena Park firm, was alerted to his daughter’s failing condition and arrived at the hospital in Orange about midmorning.

“They were there at the time of death,” Wood said. “The baby died in her parents’ arms.”

Wood said there was no medical explanation why Bonnie Marie, the fourth born of the seven babies, had survived a week longer than doctors had predicted.

“She was a fighter and from a medical explanation that’s the only thing I think you can really say,” Wood said. “Every child is different, they can surprise you. And Bonnie Marie did.”

Patti had been taking fertility drugs and the septuplets were delivered 12 weeks prematurely by Caesarean section on May 21 at nearby St. Joseph Hospital. One, Christina Elizabeth, was stillborn. The six survivors, ranging in weight from 1 pound, 1 ounce to 1 pound, 13 ounces, were transferred immediately to the Childrens Hospital intensive care unit.

Bonnie Marie’s death Sunday followed that of her brother, James Martin, by three days. David Anthony, nicknamed “Peanut” because of his diminutive size, died 64 hours after birth.

Those three deaths were attributed to hyaline membrane disease, an ailment common among premature babies that causes the lungs to collapse after each breath because the infants lack a substance to keep their air sacs open.

The three surviving septuplets, Patricia Ann, Richard Charles and Stephen Earl, also suffer from the disease and are breathing with the aid of respirators.

‘Showing Improvement Daily’

Although still considered to be in critical condition, they “are showing improvement daily” and are expected to go home by mid-August, Wood said.

Although neither of the Frustacis attended Sunday’s press conference, they spoke with reporters as they left the hospital, accompanied by their parents.

“Bonnie was a beautiful girl and a fighter and I loved her so much,” Patti said tearfully. “It’s so hard that she’s gone. We’re not going to lose any more children. The rest of them are all very healthy.

“Bonnie and James were critical and we knew it was just a question of time. But I spent every moment I could this past week there and it seemed to have made a difference. I’m just glad she gave us a few more days to get to know her,” she said.

Sam, his arm around his wife, said, “It seems we’ve had to cope with death more often than life the last couple of weeks. It’s a difficult thing anytime you lose children. You can’t look back; you have to look at the future and the present.”

Later, Wood said that he felt the Frustacis, who have a 15-month-old son, were holding up “remarkably well, considering what they’ve gone through the past three weeks.

“Patti spent a great deal of time with all the children, but really concentrated on Bonnie Marie. Sam spent as much time as he could,” he said.

Mother’s Health Improving

Patti was released from the hospital May 29, and, Wood said, “Her health has been slowly improving. This has been very exhausting for her, having to monitor the one very ill child and pay attention to the other three children. But she’s a very strong woman.”

Wood said Bonnie Marie’s respirator tubes and the lines connecting her with machines that monitor vital signs were disconnected once it was determined death was imminent.

“What happens very often with a child who is beyond salvage, shall we say, is the monitors are removed so the infant can be in the parents’ arms for those last few moments before the child is officially pronounced dead,” Wood said. “It is a common occurence in the newborn intensive care unit so that they can say goodby with the child in their arms.”