Posted on 11/17/2003 11:02:14 AM PST by cyn
Edited on 04/21/2004 9:00:47 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Daughter's recovery after six months adds layer to debate over sustaining a patient's life. To look into your daughter's vacant eyes. To hold her indifferent hand. To wonder if she knows when you leave the room. For six months, Debbie Lord tried to raise her daughter Evelyn from what doctors described as a persistent vegetative state. Some of those doctors said Evelyn would never recover. They encouraged Lord to let the girl die.
(Excerpt) Read more at jacksonville.com ...
So sad :< Hope she gets better.
TERRI SCHIAVO: Situation is a test for us all
The case of Terri Schiavo is a test for all of us. It's not a test of whether we will kill cognitively disabled people by refusing them food and water. That's a test we've already failed, because it happens routinely throughout the country.
Rather, Schiavo's case is a test of whether we will wake up and realize that letting patients decide they want to be killed means that some patients will be killed against their will.
People often leave advance directives saying what treatment they do or do not want. But Schiavo had no such directive, and her parents and siblings say she never indicated she wanted to be dehydrated and starved to death.
The problem, of course, is that if dying is a "right," then why take it away from those who forgot to tell us they want it? Should this right be exercised only by those well enough to express it?
For that matter, why should the right to escape a burdensome existence be limited to those with cognitive disabilities or other illnesses? What about the teenager whose life has suddenly become burdensome because he lost his girlfriend, failed his courses, and got thrown off the football team?
If such a student indicates a desire for death, we call the suicide hot lines. Yet, we are paving the way for courts to decide that such teens should be free to end their lives.
One advocate for Schiavo's death, reacting to the reinsertion of her feeding tube, declared that it is "simply inhumane and barbaric to interrupt her death process." But Schiavo is not a dying patient. She simply doesn't function at the same level as the rest of us.
There was no death process under way until her food and water were taken away. That's what is inhumane and barbaric. And this is a test for all of us, to see if we remember the difference.
Schiavo's parents and siblings are heroes. Were it not for their desire to care for Schiavo despite her limitations, she would have been killed without us ever hearing her name.
The future of society is determined by the strength -- or weakness -- of the family, by its readiness to care, or its willingness to kill.
But Gov. Jeb Bush is a hero, too. He understands that no public servant is permitted to turn his back on members of the public who are being mistreated. He, and many others, have passed the test this case puts before us.
It falls to us to do the same.
REV. FRANK PAVONE,
national director, Priests for Life, New York, N.Y.
That is not true. Terri was able to say a few words and was able to swallow some foods before Michael stopped all therapy and locked her away in a small room with no stimulation.
Trivia question: who had the audacity, the pomposity, to complain that we interrupted Terri's "death process"? As if she was a queen regally proceeding to an important event? As if we were total fools for wanting anything ELSE for her, the lucky woman?
It continues to be important to correct such inaccuracies so that the world gets a clearer view of Terri. That said, we have come a ways here. A month ago, the paper used the words 'coma' and 'comatose' were used in the headlines (though not by the reporter). I know they got several calls on that, and to the newpaper's credit, I've not seen that since.
Don't know if you'd seen this before -- is information from just months/a year from Terri's original injury:
PDF of original Terri exam info from 6/90 & 1&3/91
===
Physical Examination -- 6/27/90 -- pg 1/3
*patient is awake, eyes are open
*easily startled to her name or when bedrail fell down
*no respiratory distress, breathing easily
*pupils are equal and reactive
*just short focusing attention, does not track, keeps her head to the position on the right
*significant amount of tone in the head and neck.
*reflex and voluntary movement of her mouth in a chewing reflex
*T-tube in place & working properly
*severe hypertonicity of all four extremities; plantar flexor contractures, some shoulder limitation
*“again, tone is quite significant in all four extremities and difficult to achieve range of motion of the left hip and knee while she is in a supine position.”
*pt is awake
*she does give eye contact to family members
*she will close her eyes to any threatening response around her face and blink appropriately
*tracking is inconsistent
*no verbal output during this exam but it has been reported by husband and other family members and therapists over at College Harbor.
*no voluntary movement on command
*responds to painful stimulation. . . cont on next page . . . [there is no next page]
===END p1
Treatment Plan Review from Mediplex rehab, Bradenton, 1/29/91-- pg 2/3
*PT 3 X wk due to decreased range of motion in legs.
OT [occupational therapy] modified splints, will look at __ on lap tray.
*Will check at head rest also
Cognitive/Communication:
*no significant changes.
*Vocalizing when prone in P.T. [physical therapy]
*Occasionally will say "STOP" to nursing during procedures.
*to TR [recreation?] groups. More relaxed to therapists voice, touch (habituation)
===END
Monthly summary therapy plan -- 3-15-91 -- pg 3/3 PDF
Ms. Schiavo was readministered the sensory stimulation assessment measure on March 13, 1991. The results show a slight increase in a few response areas.
Terry’s [sic] eye-opening responses and motor responses (which increased two points) are now both her strongest response output category. However, the vocalization response modality increased two points also. Terry’s tactile response remained her best sensory input category, as it increased 3 points, the other 4 response categories remained at about the same level.
These slight increases may be a result of the time change. The original test was administered at 8:00 a.m. right after she got up and the second test was given at 4:00 p.m.
Terry’s ocular cranial nerve function was assessed and the results indicated that her pupil sizes were large, she had a very sluggish response to light, the consensual light reflex was present but she had an abnormal response to accommodation, tracking, and a blink reflex. These responses are very similar to last month’s administration.
Overall her general responsivess score increased slightly from 19 to 23, but remains at a __ Level II.
These scores indicate a need for a sensory stimulation program and this is being developed. In addition, the SSAM will be readministered in one month. [signed -- a nice caring person]
3/28/91 Weekly note: Pt. was seen by psych [psychology? rather than psychiatry, I’m guessing] in the sensory stim program 1 X [one time], program started 3-25-91. The goal was to increase her localized responses to sensory modalities. Her best response was to almond extract (olfactory), otherwise she only responded by opening her eyes briefly.
Summarizing across the interdisciplinary team results show similar findings. In addition, the most response increases was to tactile stimulation. Tx [treatment] plan will be continued. [signed -- nice person helping Terri 12 yrs ago]
===END
originally posted HERE on 11/1 -- thanks to FL engineer. Prayerfully submitted in hopes that this will help dear Terri, who is on my mind and heart, and her loving family -- hugs to you all. With prayers also that those planning evil against Terri might have their minds and hearts changed -- God is able. But even if He does not . . .
Why not? Why let an adulterous, estranged 'spouse' kill her? What has happened to this country?
I rather suspect he was incensed that his enjoyment of Terri's death was interrupted.
No... I am NOT suirprised any more... for we have knowingly, purposely and continuously failed to obey the primary laws which this once-free republic was founder upon!!! That is to say, The Ten Commandments. e.g., "Thou Shalt Not Murder." Period, end of argument !!!
.
Whose adultery means, according to the state law, that he shouldn't have the standing that allows him to call for this killing in the first place. Yet, incredibly, the legal case to judge this matter is scheduled AFTER the legal case intended to remove the governor's power to stay this execution! A case which would become moot if the FLoriDUH courts would do what they are supposed to do in the other case! Do we live in perverted times or what?
As the Bard would say, "there's the rub"...
Were her loving family, perchance, be given custody of Terri she might respond to therapy. She might regain her powers of communication. She might even be able to tell the world what happened that fateful day when she was "injured".
Her "husband" obviously does not want that to happen and is willing to do anything he can to prevent it.
Gee... I wonder why...
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