Posted on 03/08/2007 3:11:27 AM PST by markomalley
Bobby Schindler, brother of late Terri Schiavo, spoke to members of the Cornell community last night to promote awareness of issues facing disabled individuals.
After collapsing in her home on Feb. 25, 1990, Terri Schiavo suffered several minutes without oxygen to her brain, resulting in severe brain damage. Although she needed immediate care afterwards, a few weeks later, she only required a feeding tube to regulate her nutrition.
During 1991 and 1992, Schiavo showed signs of improvement due to rehabilitation programs and therapy, according to Schindler.
In 1993, Terri was awarded a medical trust fund of $1.5 million for life-long rehabilitation, of which her husband Michael was made guardian.
According to Schindler, after Michael deposited this money, Terri stopped receiving therapy.
Tensions arose in 1993 between Michael and Terri’s father Robert Schindler.
In 1998, Michael wrote the Schindler family a letter, explaining that he was petitioning the courts to remove his wife’s feeding tube.
Terri’s family opposed removal of the feeding tube. Michael, backed by his brother and sister-in-law, said Terri had made statements before she suffered brain damage that she would not want to live in such a condition.
“Our family was very naïve at what we were up against,” Schindler said. “The attitudes of our country [toward this issue] have been changed because of the influence of the media, judges, doctors and bioethics.”
Schindler said he was frustrated that the media portrayed his sister as bedridden and unable to be moved. In fact, Schindler said, had Terri been alive today, he could have brought her with him; she would have merely needed a wheelchair to be transported. Schindler emphasized that Schiavo was not connected to breathing stabilizers of any sort.
“My sister was not dying. She was physically as healthy as you and me,” Schindler said.
Although she could not respond rapidly, she did show signs of coherence, according to Schindler. He recounted a moment when he told his sister that he had the chance to shake hands with Bruce Springstein. Terri had purchased her brother his first C.D. by the artist. When he told her, she smiled.
Such responses were ignored by the court systems, according to Schindler. He said he believed then that videos demonstrating her ability to react to speech would convince the courts that she was not in a persistent vegetative state — one in which a person cannot respond to any external stimuli — but a judge said this did not prove his case.
On March 31, 2005, 14 days after the removal of her feeding tube, Terri died from dehydration.
“The courts have taken [on] a power of God,” Schindler said. Schindler said doctors took on a similar role and are still quick to overlook the benefits of long-term rehabilitation.
“If society knows the truth, then we can properly address the issue and give [the disabled] the right to live, a basic human right,” said Elisabeth Wilbert ’07, vice president of Cornell Coalition for Life.
CCFL invited Schindler to speak to demonstrate that the club supports pro-life organizations.
“It was a good opportunity for Cornell to get a personal view of something with such a national interest,” said Tristen Cramer ’09, president of CCFL. Schindler said his family would have preferred not to generate national interest; family members received a large number of e-mails that condemned the family for keeping Terri alive.
“I learned a lot more true information compared to what the media portrayed,” said Kourtney Reynolds ’09.
Schindler said he hopes to devalue false information given to the public by the media.
He also said that euthanasia occurred before his family’s struggle and continues to occur today.
“Are we going to care for [the disabled] or find ways to justify killing them?” Schindler asked.
You are wrong. The "Shining City on the Hill" was meant for all Americans, All of them. He was smart enough to NOT negate conservative gains. That is why he won landslide victories. We have no one up at this time that could ever even hope to do that.
You are hopeless. Whatever. Soneday you may look back and be sorry. Good evening to you.
Then again, maybe not.
Yes, and Terri wanted to be STARVED TO DEATH ALSO!
Really? And that after "projecting" every epithet you could lay your hands on? And I agree with you about the term "haters". I have certainly felt their wrath here today. Was the attempt to get me banned an act of love?
I just figured you wandered off the DU or daily kos threads by accident and found yourself here with real conservatives.
Well, I was looking for some conservatives, but found none on this thread.
Real conservatives are not filled with hostility and fury like you portray.
Like I portray? I think it was faux conservatives that called me every name in the book. Conservatives would have liked to explore the issue; Extremists explore the poster.....because they couldn't respond effectively.
Awwww, wait! You are really Melissa from the Edwards blogs, aren't you!
Never read 'em, but it appears you are a regular on them.
I can't admit to that because most of what I saw was exactly what I told you earlier. I saw both sides presented, but a lot more of the Terri protesters than the Michael Schiavo supporters. Now that was Fox, but I can't speak for the other networks. If I didn't see it, I didn't put it in my posts.
Ok, thanks.
Seriously though, when you play with fire, expect to get burned. Anyone who trusts the media is crazy. But in all fairness, with the Schiavo incident, the media gave your side far more coverage than the other side, only because your side was more entertaining. The media has no honorable intentions. When they smell red meat, they go for it. That also goes for the right wing sites like WND and life-site news. They distort, lie, and manipulate the truth. So don't expect any better out of the MSM.
Had the protesters simply kept a vigil, the media wouldn't have stayed at all. They saw a circus and enjoyed every second of the coverage. To be fair, so did your side of the debate. Your side used every opportunity to spin, just as Michael S. did. Both of you used the media to your best advantage, and now complain about it.
Got proof of that assertion?
What on earth did he have to gain from publicity? Until your side showed up and started the fuss, all was being handled quietly by both sides. Yes, the Terri site was up, but few people had even heard of her. All the publicity came from the pro-Terri side.
You can complain all you want. But I don't mind pointing out the absurdity of inviting in the press and then complaining about the coverage.
Thats the irony. These folks claim to be Christians.
A closet Rudy supporter using Duncan Hunter, I should have known. Heh, heh, nice try.
You're insults are as ineffective as your imagination is limited.
I expect no different from a Rudy supporter. This is their usual tact. *yawn* . If I were Rudy, I would fire you!
I think you've got your hands full attending to yourself. But that is one thing about whackydoodles, they do like to mind other folks business.
Yeah, and don't forget the "freedom loving" part...as long it is just their freedom, and no one else's.
You are an A*s. WTH are you doing on this thread?, Ace, could you maybe be minding business that belongs to people other than you? Jokey folks always end up revealing themselves! Ha Ha,Just laughin' my butt off! What a foolish hypocrite you are. Ha ha. Head on back to Rudy, there are still a few more hours in this day to insult conservatives.
You do well enough insulting yourself, thanks anyway.
Thats okay, I aim to please!
If that is your aim I pity your toilet seat.
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