Family fights for daughter's survival

Washington Times ^ | 10/14/03 | Frank J. Murray

[kattracks]

The parents of a brain-damaged Florida woman whose husband is poised to remove her feeding tube made a last-ditch effort yesterday to save their daughter from being starved to death.

Terri Schiavo's parents yesterday offered a deal to their son-in-law, who has prevailed in legal efforts to remove his wife's feeding tube in a Florida hospice beginning at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

[NYer]

Interview on Coast To Coast AM, RIGHT NOW!!

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[Libertina]

BTTT I was just going to post this. Coast to coast discussing NOW!

[NYer]

COASTTOCOASTAM

Author and public advocate Wesley J. Smith will discuss the unbelievable case of Terri Schiavo, the 39 year old, conscious, disabled woman whose husband has gone to court to arrange her death via court ordered starvation.

Mentioning that Terri's case is being used by those who promote eliminating the handicapped and using them as organ farms.

[NYer]

Family seeking divorce from Terri's husband.

[Libertina]

Are you hearing this? Unbelievable! Eugenics, murder, property... Sickening "elitist" philosophy - "some animals are of greater worth than humans if the humans are of lower cognizance." Awful, and GODLESS.

[CHUCKfromCAL]

I have been lurking and reading the articles and comments that are being posted. My family went through a similar situation which ended a few years ago. As a result, I can comment from experience.

Regardless of what the wife's family says, the small amount of money the husband got could not possibly have been sufficient for 13 years of hospitalization. Terri's family has somehow convinced themselves that her husband is only interested in the money - which is very hard to believe. I suspect that the need him to be the "bad guy" who stole the money to justify their position that Terri should be maintained indefinitely (at someone else's expense, of course.)

Terri's situation and status has been thoroughly reviewed by the courts and they have not found the need to remove the husband from the decision making role (even with extensive pressure from Terri's family.) He is, after 13 years, making a reasonable decision (even though I may not agree with it on religious ground.)

There is no reason to believe that Terri will ever recover and be a functioning human being again. Terri's family must face the fact that her life can not be prolonged indefinitely. Instead of making a public spectacle of Terri's death they should seek spiritual help and comfort and allow Terri to go to her reward.

[freeparoundtheclock]

Picture listening to Coast to Coast at 1:00 a.m. with the Hospice building in view. Wesley Smith articulated what we said in over 8000K posts for the Coast to Coast audience which I think is HUGE. They have message boards at Coast to Coast too. It may be interesting to see what they're saying over there. I must get some shut eye. There are at least six Terri threads this evening. SATURATION IS A GOOD THING.

[incindiary]

Thanks freeparoundtheclock! btw, I posted a thread on 3 other forums, it may not be much... but I'm trying to get the word out.

[freeparoundtheclock]

Great! There are 7 active front page threads re: Terri this evening. This is the saturation wake up call for America. The Schindler family is so appreciative of everything that's being done for their daughter through the kindness and dedication of strangers. She has a remarkable sister and brother too.

[AnimalLover]

Sorry to hear of your suffering several years ago.

In Terri's case there is a lot of money - originally close to $2million. In addition he's be living with his girlfriend for a number of years - had a child and is now expecting another. He says he wants to marry her.

If he is such a caring husband, why did he claim at the malpractice trial that he loved her, she was his life, he was studying to be a nursen and needed the money for her therapy and rehabilitation. Then as soon as the money was in the bank, he stopped all treatment and put her in a nursing home. I understand it was not that great a place.

He refused her all medical help and even when she had pneumonia refused antibiotics. She got well on her own.

This young woman is NOT in a coma nor is she in a vegetative state. All this time she has not been on life support - only the feeding tube which could be removed once she received therapy and was able to eat by herself. Her husband has denied anything to help her even though doctors have said she could get better with therapy. Again, husband says no. He even does not allow her Priest to visit her.

If he loved her so much, why would he want to subject her to such a terrible death?

The general thought is that he wants her dead. He just might be responsible for her being in this condition and is afraid she would "tell" on him.

I am sure if you considered all the facts in this case, you would at least give her a fighting chance!

[fawn796]

I posted a link on an MT site I frequent. One woman replied (who is from Florida) that she was aware of the situation by way of the Florida newspapers. She was shocked when she went to the website and saw the information there and the videos - totally different situation than is being portrayed by the media.

I tell everyone I know about Terri. NO ONE has heard of her. Hopefully now they will!

[GailA]

Maybe some phone calls to Sen (Dr) Bill Frist 202-224-3344 and to Rep (Dr) Ron Paul 202-225-2831 might help? Wouldn't hurt to try. I called Gov Bush's office yesterday. 850-488-4441.

We don't even put dogs or killers down this way!

[AnimalLover]

We don't even put dogs or killers down this way!

E-Mailed the ACLU here in Southern California yesterday and below is their reply. I have included my message. Perhaps anyone in Florida might try calling their office and of course, if everyone E-Mails!

> Dear Ms......

> The ACLU affiliate in Florida would be most able to answer your request. You can contact them at the following address:

> Executive Director: Howard Simon

> 4500 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 340

> Miami, FL 33137

> Phone: (305) 576-2336> Fax: (305) 576-1106

> E-mail: aclufl@aclufl.org

> > Further information can be found on the Florida ACLU website at: http://www.aclufl.org/.

> > Thank you for your continued support.

> > Sincerely, > D. Barber > ACLU Correspondence Manager

[fatidic]

Your defense of Terri's husband ignores his long list of cruelties to her. You also projected unworthy motives onto her parents. Lastly, you seem to be supporting killing Terri by dehydradion.

[TigersEye]

ping

[cyn]

Hannity showed video last night of how Terri visibly brightened up when her mother entered the room and started fussing with her as only a mom can. And this in spite of the fact that Terri has had NO REHABILITATIVE MEASURES over the past 13 years, on the orders of her husband/guardian.

* Her parents have said they only want to bring Terri home, to give her the rehabilitation that has been denied her by her current husband/guardian. They will allow him to keep any money that might be Terri's (for her care) in case he is influenced by money.
* The circumstances surrounding her initial collapse in '90 are sketchy. Might her husband/guardian have something to hide?
* The above two points make me wonder how a person w/such conflicts of interest can be maintained as her guardian?
* The "right to die" folks are out in force on this (incl the husband/guardian's lawyer, even though Terri never did give a clear request to her family -- it was a second hand report by her husband, his brother, and sister in law (as I recall).

I don't know if you got to see that video -- it is on Terri's website http://terrisfight.org. It might be aired again tonight on H & C -- Sean will have Terri's father on.

Yours is a valuable perspective; I'd considered it in the past, too. But in light of the above and more, I do hope Terri's parents to do what they've been prevented from doing all these years.

[PleaseNoMore]

Chuck, I too can comment from experience and my experience is vastly different than yours. A family member of ours, ironically named Chuck, was in a horrible motocycle accident. He too was on a feeding tube to sustain him. He underwent rehabilitive therapy and now eats on his own. He actually feeds himself with "his good hand". He is paralyzed still on his left side, cannot speek, but, he can "communicate" through grunts and gestures. This is a man who has been in this state for nearly 18 years. I also know many others like him and like Terri who HAVE, with therapy, overcome overwhelming odds against them. So, I beg to differ with you when you say that there seems to be no hope for Terri. No one has ever even given her a chance. The human will is an amazing thing. I fully believe in giving her a fighting chance. Her husband has never allowed any therapy so you cannot make that judgement call without her ever having the benfit of at least minimal therapy. You do not kill a person simply because their body doesn't work.

[CHUCKfromCAL]

At the beginning let me say that I don't know anything about Terri's Husband. He apparently has decided to refuse to respond to Terri's family or the press. I think you should explore your allegations.

1) Terri has been undergoing hospital/hospice care for 13 years or almost 5000 days. If you divide $2,000,000 by 5000 days you get $400.00 per day which is far less than the cost of hospital care anywhere in the United States.

2) The Husband did not stop all treatment - if he had she would have passed years ago.

3) How do you know what was done with the money? - I certainly don't think that the members of Terri's family are unbiased sources of information. The Husband's Attorney says that the money was all spent for Terri's care long ago.

4) She is vegetative and on life support. The courts have found that her brain damage is quite severe. The feeding tube is life support in Terri's case (if you remove it she will die.)

5) The Husband is within his MORAL and legal rights to not provide additional medical care that will prolong her life. (I know I will be flamed for that statement - go ahead - we can have a discussion about it.)

6) The compliant about him having a girl friend is crazy - He is entitled to have a life. He is NOT responsible for his wife's brain damage. She has been unable to function as a wife for 13 years.

7) "He wants her dead" How, as a Christian, can you make that kind of an accusation? He has keep her alive for 13 years. He was given approval to remove her feeding tube in 1990 - three years ago.