Terri's Life isn't Worth a Plug Nickel - Her Death is Worth Thousands
By April Shenandoah
This Article Published 10. 23. 03 at 23:49 Sierra Time
When I first heard of Terri Schindler Schiavo's plight, I stopped in my tracks and prayed for a miracle. Sickened by the story, I became emotionally involved as many Americans have.
After a long battle to save her life, by her parents, and husband Michael Schiavo's determination to euthanize his wife by starvation - the battle ended October 15, 2003 when Terri's feeding tube was removed. God Bless Florida's Governor, Jeb Bush, for getting a new ruling passed that allowed the feeding tube to be replaced (after she was off it for six days). Video tape shown on national television - clearly shows that Terri definitely is not in a vegetative state, as the husband, the doctors, and the media have been describing her. She responds to her family with expressions, and has even been taught to say "yeah" to answer yes to their questions.
Speech pathologist, Sara Green Mele, said, "based on my experience and my observations, Mrs. Schiavo is clearly aware of her environment and interacts with it, albeit inconsistently. She is able to comprehend spoken language, and can, at least inconsistently, follow simple commands. It is my opinion, that Terri would benefit from speech-language therapy, and physical therapy. Her quality of life can be significantly enhanced." Terri's family and other observers feel that she has the capability to swallow, therefore eat by mouth. Affidavits were sent to probate Judge George W. Greer requesting him to allow a swallowing test, which he denied.
It boggles the mind how the facts of this case have been blatantly ignored by those making Terri's "life and death" decision. Her husband has never allowed his wife any form of rehabilitation or comfort. He claims that she does not want to be kept alive by artificial means (she is not hooked to a respirator), how artificial is feeding a person? Terri initially arrived at the hospital with broken bones (bone scans show she was severely beaten) but curiously was treated for a heart attack. Somehow Mr. Schiavo manages to elude suspicion.
Concerned said husband, is living openly with another woman and their child, with another one on the way. When pictures of family and friends were placed in Terri's room, they were promptly removed. Clothes her Mother bought for her were taken away never to be seen again. Terri was not even allowed outside without the permission of Mr. Schiavo. Terri's two cats, of five years, were euthanized by this same loving husband. He is in line to inherit $750K that was awarded to her via a medical malpractice lawsuit - he was awarded $300,000 in damages. The compensation was intended for Terri's medical treatment and therapy -- which was never permitted.
If anyone had an abnormal brain condition, it was the ones calling the "barbaric" shots at "The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast" in Largo, Florida. According to an article written by Becki Snow, in November of 2002, she calls the Hospice "nothing more than a Death Factory." It came to her attention that George J. Felos, Past Chairman of the Hospice's Board of Directors, and attorney for Mr. Schiavo, is a self-described "right-to-die" advocate. Felos was the official but unseen hand of the Hospice - and he advocates death for those in his care.
Snow continued (2002) -- the death Felos has prescribed for Terri starts with a ban on all but the most basic physical care - the once beautiful woman rots in her "Hospice of the Florida Suncoast" bed; Terri's advocates claim her teeth are unbrushed, her nails untrimmed, her infections untreated. This was not always the case - even after her brain injury, Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, kept her groomed and pretty. Now Terri's parents have been safely removed so as to avoid "false hope." All media and medical access is tightly controlled by Mr. Schiavo and Felos.
Update October 2003: With the replacing of the feeding tube, Mr. Husband has ordered NO VISITORS for Terri, keeping her parents away, once again. This is inhumane! Mr. Schiavo needs legally, or bodily, removed from this situation!
[I have personally witnessed forced starvation in hospitals, and convalescent homes. Families are usually oblivious to the non-care, drugging, and finally starvation of their loved ones. Euthanasia is common practice!] |
