[SmokyGeo]

Lots of questions I would want to ask here.

How come Terri is on the feeding tubes in the first place? Was there some hope that she might recover? Has that hope disappeared now? What sort of life can she expect if left on the feeding tubes? How much longer can she be expected to live on the feeding tubes? Has she ever expressed any thoughts about how she might wish to be treated if something happened to her?

Our niece was in a car accident and had severe damage to her brain. She lived in a condition apparently much like Terri's. As she was 19 when the accident happened, "heroic measures" were taken to save her life. She eventually died... naturally... about three years later. I don't believe that she suffered at all during that time.

I do believe that her movements were indeed reflex movements. Those same movements happened when she could not possibly have been aware that anyone was present in the room or when people were only looking in a window or at a monitor and not even in the room.

I also don't think that Terri will feel anything one way or the other, if she is fed or not.

I do think that doctors are anxious to take heroic measures to save lives, and that's not always appropriate. Families always hope for miracles, but I think that the miracle is that the person is not suffering. Peace is a miracle too.

Sometimes, death is not the enemy.

[Diamond]

I also don't think that Terri will feel anything one way or the other, if she is fed or not.

And just how would that be known?

I do think that doctors are anxious to take heroic measures to save lives, and that's not always appropriate.

Of course, but what is heroic about food and water?

Cordially,