Posted on 03/18/2005 1:27:14 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat
The February 24, 2005, Visit Narrative
by
Attorney Barbara Weller
I have visited Terri Schindler Schiavo several times since I first met her on the day before Christmas in 2004. Today was an especially poignant visit so I decided to again share it with all those who have been so concerned for her.
Attorney David Gibbs III and I visited Terri to update her on the good things that were happening in the legal case. We believe that she comprehends at some level what is going on and that she may well have been aware of the fear and anguish her parents and siblings were feeling on February 21 when the possibility existed that the process of starvation and dehydration might again be initiated leading to her death.
We made this visit with her mother and father, Bob and Mary Schindler. For the first time since I have been visiting her, security guards were posted by Terri’s door and visitors had to clear two check points before entering the room. The Schindlers are very grateful that Terri has been given this extra protection to keep her safe during this difficult time.
When Mr. Gibbs and I entered the room with Bob, Mary was already there. Terri was again sitting in her lounge chair, at nearly an upright angle. Mary was perched on the arm of the chair with her head right next to Terri’s head. Mary was talking to Terri and kissing her and Terri’s eyes were wide and locked onto her mother’s eyes. Mary was saying “I love you” and trying to get Terri to repeat the words after her. Mary would say “I-I-I-I” and Terri would answer back “Aa-a-u-u-ugh.” Mary would then say “l-o-o-o-v-v-v-v-e” and Terri would repeat “Aw-w-w-w-w-w.” Mary then said a staccato “you” to which Terri did not audibly respond.
Within a minute or two after we entered the room, Terri began to appear tired. She had been interacting with Mary for a half hour before we arrived and seemed to need a little rest. She closed her eyes while the four of us chatted. When Mary tried to get her attention, she would try to open her eyes, but they would flutter shut again. Mary was coaxing Terri to wake up, telling her that she had some “very important visitors” (Mr. Gibbs and myself). Finally, after a few minutes of coaxing, Terri’s eyes opened wide again and she again locked them on her mother’s face.
After a few minutes, Mr. Gibbs began to talk to her. When Terri heard Mr. Gibbs' voice she became startled. She threw her head backwards and made a loud snorting sound. While Mr. Gibbs continued to talk to her she was opening and closing her eyes, sometimes looking in his direction and sometimes appearing to be resting. Mr. Gibbs told her about the good things that were happening, about all the people around the world who love her and who are praying for her, and that the government had stepped in to protect her and to try to help her. He stressed, like you would to a small child, how blessed Terri was to have a mom and dad who loved her. Terri seemed quite content listening to Mr. Gibbs speak.
I next took a turn to talk with Terri. I went to the spot where her mother had been and began to talk quietly to her about the party we are all going to have when she goes home. I also prayed with her. The whole time I was speaking to her and praying for her, her eyes were wide open and fixated on my face. At one point, she tried to talk with me, making a very quiet “a-a-a-a-a” sound. I had the impression that my voice was perhaps somewhat familiar to her since I have now been to see her several times.
When her father went to stand by her side on Terri’s left, Mr. Gibbs had moved to her right, on the other side of Terri’s bed, which is next to her lounge chair. Earlier in Terri's room Bob had joked with Mr. Gibbs that everybody wanted to talk to Mr. Gibbs now and nobody cared what Bob had to say anymore making him jealous. Bob began to joke with Terri as he always does and Terri’s face took on the same coy, semi-annoyed look that I have seen before when she interacts with her father. At that point, Terri arched her back and turned her whole body to the right, away from Bob, to gaze intently at Mr. Gibbs with a little saucy smile on her face. It seemed obvious to me that she was playing along with the joke by giving her father the cold shoulder and focusing all her attention on Mr. Gibbs. Bob continued to tease with her about this for a few minutes and then gave her his customary hug and kiss, to which she responded with her usual lemon face that she reserves for his mustache kisses.
The four of us spent several more minutes joking and laughing together. Terri did not speak, but watched and listened to us. When it was time to go, Mary went up to Terri’s head to say goodbye. At that point Terri began to cry and to look very distressed. Mary said that Terri does not always cry when they leave, but she sometimes does. Mary promised that the whole family would return the next day, but Terri did not stop crying. When Mary left the room, I went up to Terri’s head and leaned close and told her that even though her mother and father could not always be with her that she was not alone. When I told her that, Terri widened her eyes again. She was no longer crying when I left the room.
This visit lasted about forty minutes. We encourage everyone to continue to pray for Terri and her family, especially that Terri will soon be receiving the help she needs to learn to speak and to swallow and that she will soon be home with her family again.
Felos should have been a prosecutor.
For Himmler.
bttt
Felos gives Senator Wyden full credit for derailing the Senate bill to save Terri's life.
If that isn't enough incentive to be sure that Wyden is thrown out of office on his fat azz next election cycle, I don't know what is.
I heard Felos, too. He admitted that the U.S. Senate can put a stop to this insanity.
From here Btw, Terri has 3 policemen in her room and 2 at her door.
this is a rush and breaking from me and Floriduh Voter.
We got news on what happened to Terri. Terri said "I--want--to--live" and was heard by a policeman. They ushered out the Schindlers and the policeman now denies the story. They went ahead bent on continuing. Terri is talking, and she is being silenced!!!!
Time for action. I can do little, could be bumped any moment from the library computer. Please whoever needs to know this and can help now it the time to step in. Floriduh Voter is doing an incredible job in getting the word out but we need your help.
If I do not reply it is because I am being bumped off this access. Also this may be overtaken by events, but this just happened and I was privy to the info when it broke.
And this:
When the Federal Marshal(s) went to the Hospice House Woodside, they were accompanied by local police (agency unknown). Terri's parents were present at the time. In her room, they had asked Terri if she wanted to live. Her vocal answer was, "Yes". It is reported by Sherri's sources that Terri's parents then tried to get Terri to speak one word at a time to say, "I .. want .. to .. live". It was while Terri was speaking that the police reportedly came into the room. Other details are quite sketchy. I admit to being very uneasy handling this comment as a third (or fourth, etc) party. However, it was eeevil conservative's wish that I do so. She further requests that you go to Empire Journal (Scoop1) for more breaking information.
Thanks for posting this...I'd missed it.
I wanted so badly to pull an Elvis and shoot out the TV screen while Felos was on. He sickens me.
"WHERE IS THE WORLD IS THE UN OR THE ACLU?"
The UN, the ACLU only speak on behalf of murderers and perverts, not on behalf of victims or crime or inhumane treatment. Now if Terri Schiavo was on death row....
I am praying for a miraculous intervention -- to the extent of Terri asserting her own wishes LOUDLY and SOMEone who can help her.
Y'all seen this?
Hold on--it's more complicated than that. Reeve was fully aware, mentally the same as always. Terry is either in a PVS or something close to it. I think most people would prefer not to be permanently sustained in her condition. That's the response I get when I ask people about their wishes. That said, Michael Schiavo has always seemed a little too eager. His creepiness is what has turned this into a huge controversy.
The ACLU has announced they are working with Michael Schiavos attorney.
Senator Frist, who is also a doctor, has examined her records and other documents and disagrees. He was on C-Span last night, after 10pm, giving his reasons. Some of it in doctor speak.
You may be right. When is the last time Terry was seen by the public. If Michael could put her on TV and show that Terry really is a "houseplant" as his lawyer once stated, than public opinion would sway strongly his way. The fact that he keeps her out of sight makes me wonder.
She's not been seen in public in a very long time. Her family took videos of her and posted them on a website. Michael Schiavo banned them from seeing her after that. They petitioned the court and were allowed back in but are not allowed to take pictures or videos.
This video, called "Terri's big eyes", is where a doctor asks her to wakeup. There is sound on the video..
BTTT
I realize the situation is a little different, but not to her family. Reeve obviously made vast improvements with therapy (the best available). Terri has been denied therapy for a number of years. Myself I would not want to be in this state and I hope that God would take me home, but our timing isn't always His. If she was on other artificial life support I would say disconnect, but food and water is pretty basic. Her husband is much too eager and he has committed adultery. He really shouldn't have guardianship at this point. I've heard many people say in casual conversations that they wouldn't want to be kept alive, but I think we have to look at each case individually. She seems somewhat coherent and able to respond in the videos I have seen and from what I have read. Reeve couldn't breathe on his own and Terri can't eat on her own. What is the difference? Who gets to decide who deserves to live? I would hate to be the person making that choice....God Bless!
Terri is very much alert, as so many have stated. Bob Schindler confirmed the following story in his press conference in Jax FL on 2/28/05
______________________________________________
Terri goes Goo~Goo eyes over Attorney Gibbs
By Cheryl Ford RN
February 25, 2005
Last night at hospice Terri's father, Robert Schindler and Attorney Gibbs visited with Terri. Mr. Schindler was the first to enter Terri's room, approaching Terri on her right. As always, Terri was delighted to see her Dad until Mr. Schindler announced that Mr. Gibbs was with him.
Mr. Gibbs moved closer to Terri's left greeting her with, "Hello Terri."
Terri, hearing Mr. Gibb's deep voice immediately turned to her left to look at him. Terri's Dad stated that once she eyed Mr. Gibbs that was the end of his visit with her because she was no longer interested in anything he had to say to her ... "she was goo-goo eyes over Attorney Gibbs."
Mr. Schindler then exclaimed, "Terri, Terri, look at me. I've come here to see you as well and now you cannot take your eyes off of Attorney Gibbs, what am I chopped liver?" Terri responded with laughter to her father's comment but her eyes remained focused on Mr. Gibbs.
Bob said, "Well, Cheryl that's the last time I will be taking Mr. Gibbs along with me since my daughter did not hear anything I had to say once he had her attention.
______________________________________________
What is a persistent vegetative state?
According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke people in PVS "have lost their thinking abilities and awareness of their surroundings, but retain non-cognitive function and normal sleep patterns. Even though those in a persistent vegetative state lose their higher brain functions, other key functions such as breathing and circulation remain relatively intact.
Spontaneous movements may occur, and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli. They may even occasionally grimace, cry, or laugh. Although individuals in a persistent vegetative state may appear somewhat normal, they do not speak and they are unable to respond to commands."
People suffering from PVS can generally be distinguished from afflicted but cognitively intact patients who suffer from "locked-in syndrome" by the fact that "locked in" patients can track visual stimuli and use eye blinks for communication.
thanks for posting that info -- pls ping me if you get more info -- thanks so much.
floriduh voter just got home. I had 8mmmhauser do a call to action post from Hospice Wooside for us. IT IS A VERY UGLY SITUATION. Terri declared TWICE today when asked "Terri do you want to live?" TWICE TERRI DECLARED YEAH. Unfortunately, the cop stated that Terri said "no",the Schindlers were kicked out of Terri's room and the next thing you know the feeding tube was removed. GREER IS IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS.
I have just spoken with Dave Weldon's office. They are still working on saving Terri in the U.S. Congress. BILL FRIST'S MAILBOX IS FULL, COULDN'T LV A MESSAGE WITH HIM.
I am exhausted. TERRI HAS DECLARED TWICE TODAY THAT SHE WANTS TO LIVE. That is a miracle. Spread it far and wide, especially to the US Congress, the Fla House & Senate, to Governor Bush and to the DCF in Florida. Thanks, freepers. FV
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