Naturally I've heard about the fight in Florida between the parents of Terri Schiavo and her husband, Michael Schiavo. In a situation like this, it's often hard to know who's telling the truth: the husband who says she's in a vegetative state, or the parents who say she responds to them?
I went to the site Terri's Fight and watched the videos of her.
If you've ever worked in a nursing home, you've probably worked with a patient like Terri. We might consider it a low level of functioning, but she seems to respond to people and her surroundings. From a pro life priest who visited with her:
I have had two opportunities to visit Terri Schiavo, most recently on the first Sunday of February. I have been able to talk to her, to listen to her struggle to speak, to watch her focus her eyes and smile and attempt to kiss her parents.
Terri is not "brain dead."
The only artificial life support she requires is a feeding tube, (and even that is in question.)
Yet, the court has ruled that Terri doesn't deserve her own attorney. On Feb. 22, the stay that prevents her husband from removing her feeding tube expires. Our judicial system has decided that we can kill a person who can't speak for themselves by starvation and dehydration.
Even though another woman with a brain injury 20 years ago suddenly began talking last week.
Even though I'd probably get jail for witholding food and water from an animal.
Terri's parents offered to take her home and care for her, with a guarantee they will never ask her husband for money. Along with the offer they suggested his lawyer could write the agreement any way he wanted to. He's declined. Michael Schiavo is determined that Terri must die, even if others want to care for her.
There's a blogburst going on to try and save Terri's life. I believe I started this journey here at the One Big Swede blog.
Update 4:15 PM: Mama Ellen (aka Headstrong Elf) makes a great point in her post on Terri here.
Dean's World has had several great posts on Terri as well. www.deanesmay.com
Posted by: St.Kate | February 18, 2005 at 09:00 AM
This weekend, once the links are set on my home blog, Terri will definately be linked. Also, if anyone is interested, I posted about Terri this morning and some interesting info on Florida laws. Hat tip to Sandy for the idea.
Posted by: Mama Ellen | February 18, 2005 at 02:25 PM
Here is something else we need to do: go on the record.
http://info-theory.blogspot.com/2005/02/terri-schiavo-pledge-drive.html
Please join me.
Posted by: Paul Deignan | February 18, 2005 at 07:51 PM