Brother Of Michael Schiavo Defends Life-Support Decision

NBC10.com ^ | November 6, 2003

[yonif]

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A Florida judge has refused to block an effort by the parents of a brain-damaged suburban Philadelphia native to try to get her husband removed as her legal guardian.

Attorneys for Michael Schiavo now have to respond in court to charges in the petition that he withheld proper care and therapy from his wife and that he has a conflict of interest because he's involved in a romantic relationship with another woman.

In his first television interview, Michael Schiavo's brother has broken the family's silence and spoke exclusively about the situation.

"The only reason Mike is doing this is to fulfill a promise he made to his wife," Steve Schiavo said.

Steve's brother may be one of the most controversial husbands in America. Michael Schiavo has been fighting to have a feeding tube removed from his brain-damaged wife, Terri, because he says it's what his wife had wanted.

"He wants to get on with his life. And I'm not saying that because he wants to get rid of Terri so he can get on with his life. He loves his wife and he promised that he would do this," Steve said.

Michael and Terri met and married in Bucks County in Pennsylvania. They moved to Florida 17 years ago. Steve says his brother never dreamed that 17 years later he'd be embroiled in a battle with Terri's parents over her right to live or die -- a battle that has portrayed Mike as a villain.

"He received threats and the FBI decided it would be best that he leave his house," Steve remembered.

Much of the battle over Terri's fate stems from a home video shot by her parents to show she's not in a vegetative state.

"If your child smiled and laughed at you and made sounds at you and responded with to you with her eyes would you just say, 'OK, great. Let's stop feeding them?'" asked Kathy Schindler, Terri's cousin.

"Terri makes those noises, those sounds, those movements when no one's in the room," Steve said.

Terri's parents have been fighting Mike Schiavo for guardianship and Mike's family has wondered if it would be better if Mike simply divorced Terri.

"For my father, who passed away a year ago, yes. He told Mike, 'Mike, I would just walk away,' and Mike said 'No, I have to do this,'" Steve remembered.

[Bonaparte]

Very misleading header. Sounds like Mike and Steve are 2 peas in a pod.

[I still care]

"The only reason Mike is doing this is to fulfill a promise he made to his wife," Steve Schiavo said."

How old was Terri when she got sick? 23? You mean they sat down one night and discussed about feeding tubes when they got old?

I don't think this makes a bit of sense.

[exit82]

He "has to do this" to bury the evidence, once and for all--literally.

My take is that Terri didn't wind up on the floor 13 years ago without help.

[UCANSEE2]

This is the most disjointed, go nowhere, duck and cover interview I have seen, since Bill Clinton was President.

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A Florida judge has refused to block an effort by the parents of a brain-damaged suburban Philadelphia native to try to get her husband removed as her legal guardian.

(The first time I have read the premise of the situation stated correct in a newspaper)

Attorneys for Michael Schiavo now have to respond in court to charges in the petition that he withheld proper care and therapy from his wife and that he has a conflict of interest because he's involved in a romantic relationship with another woman. (Involved. More like married with children)

In his first television interview, Michael Schiavo's brother has broken the family's silence and spoke exclusively about the situation.

(What family silence. They have been speaking for quite a while, in an attempt to get others to perceive the situation the same way they do)

"The only reason Mike is doing this is to fulfill a promise he made to his wife," Steve Schiavo said.

(Yeah, after she was hospitalized and he had won the lawsuit, he likely went to her room and made a promise. You bet.) Steve's brother may be one of the most controversial husbands in America.

(there is no reason nor information provided for even having this statement.)

Michael Schiavo has been fighting to have a feeding tube removed from his brain-damaged wife, Terri, because he says it's what his wife had wanted. "He wants to get on with his life.

READ THE NEXT SENTENCE EXACTLY AS IT IS WRITTEN, AND "SEE THE TRUTH".

And I'm not saying that because he wants to get rid of Terri so he can get on with his life.

"Terri makes those noises, those sounds, those movements when no one's in the room," Steve said.

(yep, Steve is right. When Terri was left in her room, abandoned, unable to see her parents, have her teeth brushed, etc., yep, she made noises and movements.

Terri's parents have been fighting Mike Schiavo for guardianship and Mike's family has wondered if it would be better if Mike simply divorced Terri.

(Now, what does the above paragraph have to do with the next?)

"For my father, who passed away a year ago, yes. He told Mike, 'Mike, I would just walk away,' and Mike said 'No, I have to do this,'" Steve remembered. (or I don't get any of their insurance money!)

[joesnuffy]

By the way, Michael Schiavo's concubine (Jody Centonze) just had her second baby with Micheal 2 weeks ago. Michael also has another child (about 12 years
old) from an adulterous affair he had with a co-worker many years ago while he was married to Terri. Michael lives in a posh home with a Mercedes, SUV, and a nice sporty Acura. He wears
a ton of gold jewelry around his neck and wrists. Thanks to Terri, he lives like a prince. George has also done very well with Terri's trust fund money. George Felos was paid $550,000 from
Terri's trust fund. Keep up the prayers for Terri. Something good has to happen soon with all the prayers she's getting

[MontanaBeth]

He promised her to do this? Honey, promise me if I ever can't speak for myself, you will starve and dehydrate me to death, and oh yea, make sure my family can't see me. Right.

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Very misleading header.

You got that right.

This headline phrase Michael Schiavo Defends Life-Support Decision deserves another "if-we-had-a-fly-on-the-wall" report telling us how the death-supporting propagandists at NBC10.com struggled over how to put a non-deathist spin on this headline.

I wish I had the time to gin up a fitting dialogue, but the idea is certainly intriguing: How do deathists go about making their bloody task appear politically correct?

The stumbling which lead up to their finally deciding to go with the blatant lie "Life-Support" must've been a marvel of contortion.

[Bonaparte]

Over the years, I've learned to consider everything the liberal media says to be a lie until conclusively proven otherwise. They almost always do it by misdirection of one sort or another, so they can "plausibly deny" their deception when called on it. This first dawned on me in the late 60s when Walter Cronkite was deliberately spreading the impression that we were failing militarily in Vietnam. He did this night after night, like the good little commie propagandist he was (and is).

[TigersEye]

The stumbling which lead up to their finally deciding to go with the blatant lie "Life-Support" must've been a marvel of contortion.

Over the years, I've learned to consider everything the liberal media says to be a lie until conclusively proven otherwise.

The extent to which I agree with these two statements couldn't possibly be overstated! If you haven't read this post of mine I hope that you will. It is certainly not understated and while it doesn't mention the Corporate Media specifically I think it will be clear just what I do think of them. : )

[Bonaparte]

Thanks for the link, TE. That was an eloquent and powerful post. A pleasure to read.

[cyn]

"Michael also has another child (about 12 years
old) from an adulterous affair he had with a co-worker many years ago while he was married to Terri." ---

This is first I've seen these details -- 12 yrs ago, co-worker -- do you have link to info source(s)? I've been unable to find anything more to pass on to others (eg, Greer) who need to know. Thanks.

At least, last I skimmed daily thread (WHEW!), we were still looking for substantiation / more info -- do we have it yet, sweetliberty? lol because of all the volumes we're creating. . .

[sweetliberty]

Still working on that one. We need solid evidence.

[sweetliberty]

See my post here.

[Ohioan from Florida]

If we ever get the info on the affair that produced at least one other child, I don't think sending it to Greer would be appropriate. It had better go to Pat Anderson or another of the attorneys. Although it appears that Greer may be changing his tune by not dismissing the guardianship case, that doesn't mean that Greer wouldn't overlook any info that was presented to him in anything other than a document or live person testimony. In fact, I would think it would be illegal for him to consider anything that wasn't presented in his courtroom. (Come to think of it, that's probably why he dumped Bush's letter in the circular file).

[lisat10]

I don't mean any disrespect for the point you are trying to make about the Schiavo case, however I do want to point out how uneducated and and archaic you sound when you refer to Michael Schiavo's "girlfriend" or "common law wife" as a concubine. It takes away from the whole focus of the point you are trying to make. Instead of staying focus on the issues at hand you have decided to sling mud like a corrupted politician would. It makes you look weak and pathetic, so do yourself a favor and refrain from using a word that really has no useful purpose. Try grabbing a dictionary