Today, we are as much conditioned by belief in science as we are faith in religion.

When science falls short, when basic research is criticized for its timely delivery of information, hope is called upon and the argument for research funding is made.  Truthfully, the human body will fail, no matter what age, whether it be at the age of four, forty, or eighty.  And family and friends will mourn.  But there are illnesses and diseases that have been explored extensively through scientific method that result in an identifiable cause without cure - e.g. CF; gene identifed, no cure.  THAT IS THE NATURE OF BEING HUMAN.  Scientists understand that.  That is why palliative is so important (Note: massively underfunded, misunderstood and neglected in caring for people) 

Sometimes, the physical body creates a challenge to longevity, hopes and dreams, most likely of parents for whom their children experience traumatic injury or illness - and the desire to perpetuate bloodline and the desire to care for offspring outweighs even a confirmed belief in reseqarch and seeks support  from faith based sources.  Hence medical intervention.  Hence remedies.  Hence palliative care teams.  (Note:  I specifically use terms such as offspring because it is scientific language, even though one of the best research institutes in the world is Sickkids  [HSCRI], which is ironic for many reasons, such as kids are offspring of goats.  And Hospital for Sick Children is ironic:  Of course children are sick if in hospital; Would there be a Hospital for Well Children (or kids)?

There exist many terminal illnesses within infant populations..  Research is not going to change the outcomes, in many cases.  And certainly, the very nature and process of bench research takes years; raising funds for research versus raising funds for palliative care is a valid issue.  One of the reasons that certain illnesses are not actively pursued is because scientific evidence has already revealed that no therapeutic remedies exist.  And throwing more money into research will not change the outcome:  sadly, tragically, some infants die. 

The best we can can do, as adults, is make every moment count, care for one another, grieve, and try not to experience a hardening of heart in the process.