Gov. Bush calls special session over Terri Schiavo

Firstcoastnews.com ^ | 10-20-03 | Cynthia Capers

[JulieRNR21]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida. Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo showed up Sunday outside a Pinellas Park hospice.

Doctors say Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since complications from a heart attack in 1990. Her husband was granted a court order that her feeding tube be removed, saying his wife wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive.

[isrul]

In a way he has. He has ordered the ritual of cremation, which denies a Catholic entrance to a church for a Requim Mass unless the mass is celebrated prior to the cremation. No chance of that since Greer has ordered immediate incineration.

[Salvation]

Bumping for the latest info.

[huck von finn]

isru, I understand and appreciate that. I didn't mean to jump on you. Please see my post #580.

[Salvation]

**I believe she WAS allowed the Sacrament of Holy Unction but not to receive communion because ot would have involved "feeding" her.**

Two and maybe three sacraments here:
Reconciliation (previously called Confession)
The Annointing of the Sick (previously called Extreme Unction)
Holy Eucharist (previously called Communion)

All three could take place with a person on their deathbed.


The Holy Eucharist is usually

[Humidston]

>>If true, Bush was undercutting Terri all along. Why would he do such?<<

Maybe he gets a cut of King's goodies.... NOTHING would surprise me anymore.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Okay thanks.. you are right. I have been working for the wrong party that is all. I have done all those thing you mentioned via-

That is me for straight and line Republican though. Man waht a lesson I had to learn. It stings big time. I will never support someone I know is this corupt again. I was a fool to think Jeb would do something. Others here told me he wouldn't, but I disagreed fighting and screaming as I did so. Never again. I guess he doesn't need my vote anyway.

Thanks for the pep talk. I will look you two up again so you can educate me a little more!

[isrul]

But she will not be present at the church for her own Requim Mass. Greer has seen to that. I read on another thread that Schiavo was taking the ashes somewhere, perhaps to scatter them at the local dump.

[sweetliberty]

Yet another conflict of interests. Seems there is a lot of money and political influence in the death business in Florida, huh?

Ping to poat #150.

[LifeIzGood]

bttt

[sweetliberty]

"Barbara Sheen Todd"

That name is familiar. Any particular reason why it should be?

[sweetliberty]

"Fox has stopped carrying this story."

I guess they figure it's a done deal. Besides, there is probably a breaking story on what Kobe is having for supper.

[WackySam]

Here in Tampa, 970WFLA has just reported that Johnnie Byrd HAS introduced "Terri's Bill". This gets crazier all the time.
I will look for links.

[viaveritasvita]

It stings big time.

Doesn't it, though!!

[viaveritasvita]

I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but

IT STAGGERS THE MIND!!!

And to quote my mother:

IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE!

<><

[sweetliberty]

"He insists that his wife would have wanted to die with dignity."

And just how does this disgusting excuse of a specimen of humanity figure that dying an agonixzing death from starvation and dehydration is dignified? What goes around comes around Michael, and I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when it does.

[WackySam]

From 970WFLA website-

In Tallahassee,House Speaker Johnnie Byrd is asking legislators to consider a bill preventing the starvation or dehydration deaths of anyone whose life support wishes are in doubt. Two-thirds of the House and Senate will have to agree to consider the bill.

http://970wfla.com/fla_localstory.html?ID=20031020181615

This is in conflict with what I just heard on the radio where they said he DID introduce the bill. At least he is now asking the other legislators to consider a bill. I hope it's not too late.

[angelwings49]

I apologize if this has already been posted, but I just read it for the first time myself, and wanted to share it with you... (Note: What a bunch of BS!!!)

Statement By Michael Schiavo

Published: Oct 20, 2003

Last Wednesday, my wife's feeding tube was removed.
For over 6 years, I have struggled with the Schindlers in court. On Wednesday, I joined them in grief. I understand what the Schindlers are going through at this time. I feel the same loss.

For years after this happened to Terri, I tried desperately to find a cure for her. I went from one doctor to another. Almost all of them told me there was no possibility she would recover. Any doctor that gave me a glimmer of hope that some new treatment or therapy would work was given free reign with Terri. I would do anything to make her well.

I took Terri to California. I stayed with her while doctors performed an experimental procedure to implant electrodes in her brain to stimulate its function. I spent months working with her - hopeful of a cure. Months later, the doctors told me the electrodes were not working.

I took Terri to Mediplex, in Bradenton, Florida, which is a residential rehabilitation facility that specializes in brain injuries. She spent months there in intensive physical, speech, and occupational therapy and testing.

Finally, the doctors and therapist told me and the Schindlers they could do nothing more for her. I hired a private duty aide 8 hours a day to take Terri on outings to parks and museums trying to stimulate her - looking for any sign of life, any flicker of hope. There was none - ever.

Over the years, I had three swallowing tests performed on Terri in the hope that some of the therapies would allow her to be weaned off the feeding tube. The test all showed no change, and I was advised she could not swallow food. Even now, the nursing home staff says that sometimes Terri gags and chokes on the moisture from the swabs they use to moisten her lips.

The reports you heard from nursing home aides that Terri was responsive years ago are not true. I would give anything if they were. Those aides cared for Terri during the time that I was desperately seeking a cure for her. I was so frustrated that I could not help Terri. I am sure that I was sometimes unkind to the aides - even shouted at them. This was not because I wanted Terri dead, but because I desperately wanted her alive. I blamed myself because I could not bring her back.

It seemed to me, during that time, that the aides never did enough for Terri. Some days they did not put her makeup on. I would storm into the nursing home insisting that they do so. I knew Terri always wanted to look her best. Sometimes, the aides did not get her dressed and sitting up until late in the morning. They did not always get her hair combed. They sometimes failed to give her vitamins and medications on time. At each of those failures, I became enraged and lashed out. I felt so helpless. Each small infraction reminded me how powerless I was to really help Terri. I admit that I yelled at the aides and I am now deeply sorry for that behavior. Much like the Schindlers now, I stubbornly resisted and suggestion that Terri was in a persistent vegetative state and would never get better.

I never wanted Terri to die. I still don't. After more than seven years of desperately searching for a cure for Terri, the death of my own mother helped me realize that I was fooling myself. More important, I was hiding behind my hope, and selfishly ignoring Terri's wishes. I wanted my wife to be with me so much that I denied her true condition.

Terri told me on several occasions before this happened that she would not want to live in her current condition. If we had been older, I am sure she would have signed a living will making it clear that she did not to be kept alive on tubes and machines. She never had the chance.

That left me to carry out her wishes. It has been hard. In fact, it is the hardest thing I have ever done. In the end, I did what I believe Terri would have wanted me to do.

Some people do not agree with the decisions the court made to remove Terri's feeding tube. I struggle to accept it myself. But I know in my heart that it is right, and it is what Terri wants. There is no longer any realistic hope of Terri's recovery. Perhaps there never was, but I had to try - just as the Schindlers have tried. The reality is that Terri left us 13 years ago, and none of us can bring her back.

Terri's parents and family may visit with her as much as they choose in the days to come. I, and my friends and relatives, will be there as well to spend time with Terri, as we all grieve. Please pray for us all.

[FITZ]

Are they referring to the estranged spouse who has spent his free time knocking up another woman (twice) and is still entitled to any life insurance proceeds etc. on Terri - all while Terri lies in her "vegetative state"? That husband?

At the very least ---- when one spouse is known to be carrying on an adulterous affair and wants his/her spouse dead, they should no longer be the "owner" of their spouse and should no longer be eligible for any of their money. Michael could have divorced his wife and just walked away and let her family just have her ----- but the money has too big a hold on him. Plus I think he really is afraid she could regain full consciousness and talk.

[FITZ]

Statement By Michael Schiavo

I notice he doesn't mention his lover or her wishes. He's committing adultery all the time he professes to "know" Terri's wishes. It's too dangerous to have a cheating spouse who has his eyes on your money in charge of your life ---- making the decision to let you live or force you to die. With Terri gone, he and the lover get a whole lot of money to enjoy.

[angelwings49]

ITA! He is lower than scum and will surely burn in hell for what he's done.