It is not clear what exactly caused Terri to collapse on February 25, 1990. What is clear is that the oxygen supply to her brain was cut off, leaving her permanently brain damaged. The most common theory is that, at the age of 26, Terri had a heart attack brought on by a low potassium level caused by an eating disorder. Another more recent theory suggests she may have suffered a serious neck injury. Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, a respiratory therapist and nurse, recounted that he had awakened at 5 a.m. and saw Terri collapse to the floor. Her heart had stopped beating, and her brain was without oxygen for about five minutes. [St. Petersburg Times, 1/30/00]
Almost three years later, a jury awarded Terri approximately $700,000 for her on-going medical care in a malpractice suit filed by Michael against her doctor. The case rested on the fact that her gynecologist neglected to diagnose her low potassium level even after having her blood tested. The same jury also awarded $300,000 to Michael for loss of companionship.
Ironically, during that trial Michael’s attorney, Glenn Woodworth, showed a video of Terri, and argued that, even though she was in a "vegetative state," "you can tell she has some sense of her predicament." He also pointed out to the jury that "[on the film] she knows her husband and looks into his eyes." [St. Petersburg Times, 11/12/92, 1/25/00]
Gee--$300,000 for "loss of companionship"....awwww
Yeah.....but it helps to have money to buy a new house, an 80,000 dollar mercedeces, a 15,000 pool and provide for a child and new infant not to mention his mistress's many needs. Comfort money, don't cha know. And alas, the other 700,000 (the actual award was closer to 1.2 million-out of which came his loss of companionship money-poor baby), which was to be used to help terri live life full of therapy, cleanliness, good medical care, etc. , just ended up being spent to PAY FOR A LAWYER he needed to END HER LIFE.
Problem is....Terri, tho refused antibiotics, refused even basic motion therapy to keep her limbs from crumbling, refused TV, flowers, gifts, going outdoors, rides in wheelchair around nursing home or hospice and often DENIED access to the people who truly LOVED HER, her parents when MS decided to punish them for speaking out, whatever-(JUST IMAGINE THE HORROR MS has inflicted!) has managed to LIVE.
She must want to live- very, very badly!