Terri Schiavo's Family Celebrates Her 40th Birthday, Hundreds Send Cards

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Members of Terri Schiavo's family celebrated her 40th birthday on Wednesday as supporters gathered outside of the Woodside Hospice building where she lives. Pro-life people from across the United States came to show their support for the woman who has become the focus of the national debate over euthanasia.

"The support for Terri has been overwhelming. Our family is touched by the tremendous outpouring of love and encouragement for our daughter," said Terri’s mother, Mary Schindler.

According to Terri's family, many supporters came bearing gifts and several hundred people sent Terri birthday cards and while others gave balloons and cupcakes.

Students from Margaret K. Lewis School in Panama City, Florida, also reached out to Terri.

Dozens of special needs students, many who have their own feeding tubes, learned they could send birthday wishes. Though they needed help from teachers and assistants to draw their cards and sign their names, that didn't stop them from letting Terri know they care.

"So many of these are children with feeding tubes," says Susan Perry who works at the school.

Perry told WMBB-TV, "They are human beings just like Terri. They want her to understand they know what she's going through, and if their feeding tubes were taken away from them they would go hungry. They just want to wish her a very happy birthday."

Jeanie Dicus of California brought a hand-crafted a quilt with lavender flowers and intricate needle-work for a gift. Cheryl Ford of Florida put together a collage of photos from people around the world who support the disabled woman and her plight.

Pamela Hennessy, a representative of Terri's family, said it was comforting to know people "see Terri as a person and not an 'issue.'"

"This gives us all pause to remember those amongst us who may not be able to speak for themselves -- but who are still, very much part of our human race," Hennessy added.

Birthday cards are one of the few things Terri gets to see in her hospice room. According to Terri's family, Michael Schiavo has prevented her from receiving flowers. However, the Schindler family is allowed to take cards and other gifts to her while the legal battle continues.

Birthday greetings for Terri can be sent to The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, 4615 Gulf Boulevard, #104-103, St. Petersburg Beach, Florida 33706.

There were so many cakes, we couldn't eat them all. Cheryl had a grand collage of photos, and many were from other countries. She had flags from the other countries. Russia, UK, Finland, and so many others. Cheryl was working on another picture board, and finally had to put it away, as there were too many people who wanted to talk.

We sang happy birthday by Terri's window. Her family went in to see her several times. We made more contacts. And gleaned more information.

The cops were sitting there watching us the entire time, and playing solitaire on their laptops. Anybody who came to visit a patient in hospice, had to give the patient's name to the cop before they were allowed in.

The Schindler family were all present and were excited that so many people came out to celebrate. There were prayer vigilers there as well.

A&E were there, and stayed for hours. They shot many shots of people, the set ups we had, and interviewed many others.

I had petitions for the law Senator Wise wants to discuss and vote on regarding disabled persons with feeding tubes, and how to file judicial misconduct. I gave them all away.

Cheryl has some photos she took, and she will send but I think she's sleeping currently.

It was good to talk to the Schindlers, the nurse, Carla, who took care of Terri, and the lawyers. And there was a radio station there who is very supportive of Terri's cause. He spoke with many folks, and we were allowed to say what we wanted. I handed him petitions as well.

They are moving Terri in 4 days, as they are renovating the hospice.

abc was there for a short time, but left without much fanfare. I don't even know if they shot anything with their cams.

They had a table with gifts, and a basket of cards, lots.
The Schindlers were just very grateful that people were there. They are very exhausted. I felt so bad for them.

I'm guessing 100 people were there. Maybe a few more. Most came and stayed the entire time. Many shot home videos. Some from out of state.
There were other visitors who came and left after talking some. It was their way of showing support, but they didn't stay for hours like we did.

We didn't see MS, and didn't really want to.
Pat Anderson was there. She mingled with everybody.

Everything was unwrapped and sitting on a table. The family went in to see her frequently while we were there.
She had CD's, lotions, and body rub stuff.

Terri's not allowed outside. Her brother and sister were there. The sister was very emotional.
For sitting in a strip of grass, it was decorated as best one can when using folding tables. There were flowers, balloons, cakes, cards, gifts, photos, petitions, and people talking about what they have encountered with elected and appointed officials since advocating for Terri.

I had petitions for the law Senator Wise wants to discuss and vote on regarding disabled persons with feeding tubes, but which King refuses to bring to the floor, and how to file judicial misconduct.

We tried to brain storm and set goals and devise a plan.
Currently, we all need to contact the entire Fl Senate on Wise's bill, and demand it be brought to the floor for discussion.
I'm going to sleep for a while. We were up very late, and stayed at the party until way after 11pm.
lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov,klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov,smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov,cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov,king.james.web@flsenate.gov,posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov,pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov,fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov,garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov,lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov,sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov,siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov,alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov,bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov,carlton.lisa.web@flsenate.gov,crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov,dawson.mandy.web@flsenate.gov,hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov,jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov,wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov,aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov,clary.charlie.web@flsenate.gov,portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov,dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov,geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov,lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov,margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov,miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov,peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov,saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov,schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov,atwater.jeffrey.web@flsenate.gov,campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov,constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov,villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov,argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov,bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov,haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov,wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov

258 posted on 12/04/2003 1:35:43 PM EST by KDubRN

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