Question for my Fellow Freepers...

March 23, 2005 | Hildy

[Hildy]

You are in your 20's, and you're visiting somebody in the hospital. You pass by a room where somebody is all contorted up, in a vegitative state. Would you say to your husband:

a)Honey, Don't ever let me live in that condition.

b )Honey, If I ever get like that, please make sure you do everything in your power, whatever the cost to you and our family, financially and emotionally, to keep me in that vegitative state no matter how long it takes. I want you to come and sit by my side every day and go home alone every night. I want to have strangers tend to my most personal needs. If I don't respond in four or five years, make sure I'm kept alive by a feeding tube in my stomach. And, most importantly, if you're not sure if I know what's going on around me, please err on the side of caution and keep me in that bed, indefinitely.

Remember, you're 24 years old. Which one would you pick?

[Hildy]

we just see things differently.

Well, I think we can at least agree on that! I have to bow out now too. Thank you all for your answers. Some were honestly, poignant, some were dumb, the usual insults. But some really eloquent and interesting answers ... on both sides and I thank you all. I am nothing it not a keeper of my word, so I hope this thread continues, but I will not rain on your mission on the other Terri threads. Adieu.

[Miss Behave]

"Not with someone who is not already dying. I don't know how many times this has to be explained. But there is always someone with food in their tummy and water to drink that maintains that denying a healthy person food and drink is no big deal. And yes, she may not be mentally healthy but her body is just fine."

"You go fast for five days and tell me it is not torture. I would not treat a dog this way. You would treat a human this way."

Hear, hear. So VERY well said, Teddy Bear.

[ZinGirl]

thank you, Hildy.

[ShadowDancer]

At 24 I didn't even believe I was capable of dying. This is a silly question.

[andysandmikesmom]

Thanks...and its no doubt, God, who has helped me get through all of this..

[andysandmikesmom]

Thanks for your kind reply...it sounds as if you have made the decisions for yourself, after your own personal experiences, and after much thought....

We all should let our loved ones know what we want, should we not be able to speak for ourselves...too often, tho, folks think the subject matter is morbid, and dont want to discuss it...

I really felt uncomfortable today, asking my son what he would want for himself, should that situation arise...I thought I might get back his usual snappy retort, that come on Mom, nothing bad is going to happen to me...

But he really was receptive, perhaps even really glad that I had asked him...as my husband stated, considering our sons lifestyle, it was imperative that I ask him...our son goes skiing, snowboarding, bungee jumping(stupid, I know), kayaking, jet skiing, motor boating, has mountain climbed up the Everest base camp, has gone glacier stomping, white water rafting, visits countries where I know its not safe, almost lost his life outrunning a marsh mugger gator in Nepal, and such....he does seem to live on the edge...

Couple his 'exciting' lifestyle, with just the normal dangers in life, and I am glad that at least now, I know his medical wishes, should he ever get to that point...

Again, thanks for your kind comments...

[Jeff Head]

You are welcome...I hope it helps.

[restornu]

I deserve an answer to your tyrade!

FM!

[Ann Archy]

How about this merit.....HUMANITY.

[Sandy]

I feel as a woman to have my photograph televised a hundred times a day on the cable news channels would be the absolute last shred of dignity stolen from me.

Amen to that. In Terri's case especially--considering the obsession that she had with her looks--having the videos of her current horrid condition posted all over the world would probably be one her worst nightmares. Honoring her wishes indeed.

[Two-Bits]

What is a tyrade? Hard to answer when I do not know what you mean. I will be considerate and type this slow for you. Do you mean tirade? A long violent or harshly censorious speech. Hmm, Well I am not advocating starving innocents to death so I don't see where violent or harshly speech would apply. I also do not think Society (this would include you and I) should deem who should live or die because it happens to make some uncomfortable to be around those less fortunate than them. So I do not see where this could be taken as harshly censorious speech. So you deserve an answer. You're right just like Terri deserves to be fed. Just like Terri deserves to live. Just like Terri deserves to go home with her family. Just like no parents deserves to watch helplessly as their child is being court ordered starved to death. Bless your heart, you deserve an answer. Oh God, don't we all?

Well Does FM! mean Feed me!?

[restornu]

Let me refresh your mind!

To: restornu
Theresa IS NOT UNconscious. Lie to yourself all you want but the rest of us know the truth. You are allowing a handicap woman who does not meet YOUR CRITERIA as to what life should be and be put to death. My God what is wrong with you people. Where in the hell did you put the pods?

519 posted on 03/23/2005 8:08:19 AM EST by Two-Bits (I AM HEARTSICK AND SOUL MAD!!!! DO NOT GET A DNR IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE PUT TO DEATH.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1367995/posts?page=519#519

I have no clue why you are accusing me??

[Scarlet7]

"Honoring her wishes indeed"

Yes, he's always honored her wishes. Even when he fathered those two children during their marriage.
Honoring her wishes INDEED!

[Two-Bits]

I responded to your post of
Medicine cannot cure this condition. Unless an act of God, a true miracle, were to recreate her brain, Theresa will always remain in an unconscious, reflexive state, totally dependent upon others to feed her and care for her most private needs. She could remain in this state for many years.

Did I misconstrue your comments as if Terri did not deserve to live? If so, my heartfelt apologies are extended and hopefully, accepted.

[restornu]

I was responding to PEACH who dismissed all of my research and so I looked up the 2nd district courts writting and it is they who made the mistake not the Blueblog.

Peach argued over the word "heart attack"
{She didn't have a heart attack. She had cardiac arrest. Big diff. I stopped reading right there.}

I told peach-
"I find your reasoning disengenious for that was not Codeblue saying that....Codeblue was reporting what the 2nd district said!"

I pointed out to her the mistake was made by the 2nd Dist.court calling it "heart attack" she than asked me to be removed from pinging her and you creamed me!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1367995/posts?page=512#512

[Two-Bits]

Again, my heartfelt apologies. I need to step back from the keyboard.....This situation with Terri is so surreal. Never would I believe we could starved to death a person just because they are handicap and the cheering section just baffles me. I keep thinking about those that were incinerated on 9/11 and now, I keep thinking of a family that all they wanted was to take their daughter home to love and care for but instead the Court System felt she was better off being starved to death. My God what pain they are going thru to not be able to even give their dying daughter comfort in a drink of water. I thought the horrors of Waco could not be duplicated than there was OKC, than 9/11 now Terri... God Bless my friend and may your family stay safe.

[restornu]

I think the reason we all are so busy at the keyboard is that there is an unresolved restlessness in our soul and like Terri we can't quinch it....we are not suffering like her but we are receiving an ethereal anxious that can not be idenified!

Some times one gets a glimpse of truth only to see it wane
and confusion resumes it course!

You can see the uncoming even and at the same time seems helpless!

Be of good cheer the Lord is with all his children!

Goodnight!

[rwfromkansas]

Your question is quite disingenous.

YOU CLEARLY BELIEVE THAT ANY HONEST ANSWER WOULD BE QUESTION 2.

Therefore, if we answer one, you will say our answer is not honest and then continue on your death parade.

[rwfromkansas]

That said, I will see if you aren't lying.

2. Cut me loose and let me go see Jesus. If my life is just being stuck in a bed all day tied to a feeding tube costing thousands of dollars a week for my family to afford my care, it would not be worth it IMO.

Now, if I could run around and do things a little bit, I would be much more likely to say keep me alive, even if still dependent upon a feeding tube. At least then, it would seem like living and in my opinion, would be suicide to cut the cord then. Suicide is sin and I would not do that.

Would Terri have wanted the tube pulled? Maybe. Maybe not..depends on whether her friends are right or whether Michael is right.

[rwfromkansas]

I was born in 1983...due date was in June.

Born April 7.

Thank God I am alive.