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Statement by Michael Schiavo
TBO.com News ^ | October 20, 2003 | Michael Schiavo

Posted on 10/20/2003 10:11:33 PM PDT by Auntie Mame

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: barfalert; bullcrap; euthenasia; schiavo; terrischiavo; terrisfight
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To: yesnettv
The video I'm speaking of is not on the family website. I haven't seen it anywhere on FR.
Oh well, no biggie...I just thought it would be ALL over the internet.
121 posted on 10/21/2003 1:23:43 AM PDT by bonfire
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To: Piltdown_Woman
>>Are you back again? When are you going to have your FR name changed...? It seems ill-suited to you in light of the above screed.

LOL!!!


122 posted on 10/21/2003 1:25:29 AM PDT by deannadurbin
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To: deannadurbin
There are lots of other videos on her website, but I've never seen one of her trying to get out of her chair. If you find it, let me know.

I suspect the existence of that particular video tape is the result of someone's post getting misunderstood somewhere along the line. The only way such a "tape" could possibly exist would be if the father had a picturephone.

123 posted on 10/21/2003 1:26:33 AM PDT by supercat (Why is it that the more "gun safety" laws are passed, the less safe my guns seem?)
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To: bonfire
I think I read a thread somewhere that people were really upset because the video -was- posted on the net and then was quickly removed by court order because it violated the order that she could not be taped.

I wonder what the legal reasoning was behind not allowing video taping, anyway. What could it possibly accomplish besides revealing that she is not in as bad a state as people claim?

Qwinn
124 posted on 10/21/2003 1:28:09 AM PDT by Qwinn
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To: Qwinn
Thanks. Glad someone else remembers this! Thought maybe I was sleep deprived or something...! (yawn........)
125 posted on 10/21/2003 1:30:19 AM PDT by bonfire
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To: supercat
>>I suspect the existence of that particular video tape is the result of someone's post getting misunderstood somewhere along the line.

I suspect that too. Like the old telephone game we used to play as kids. An original statement takes on different characteristics as it is communicated down the line. :)
126 posted on 10/21/2003 1:30:22 AM PDT by deannadurbin
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To: Qwinn
I wonder what the legal reasoning was behind not allowing video taping, anyway. What could it possibly accomplish besides revealing that she is not in as bad a state as people claim?

There is a movie file terri-cable.mov which I got from an FR-posted link around that time. 11 megs quicktime; it does not show Terri getting up, but it may be the video referred to elsewhere. Perhaps the story of this video got garbled with the story of Terri getting up.

127 posted on 10/21/2003 1:33:22 AM PDT by supercat (Why is it that the more "gun safety" laws are passed, the less safe my guns seem?)
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To: Auntie Mame
For years after this happened to Terri, I tried desperately to find a cure for her. I went from one doctor to another. ...

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 ...

Over the years, I had three swallowing tests performed on Terri ... 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.

Oh yeah? Show me the receipts, buddy! Show me the affidavits!
128 posted on 10/21/2003 2:00:33 AM PDT by jennyp (http://crevo.bestmessageboard.com)
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To: yesnettv; All
If these two creeps (Michael and Felos) are really in need of adult pampers or depends I would like to think that my own little contribution to the cause helped put them in that condition:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1004242/posts
It is NOW Time for CRIMINAL PROSICUTION for Michael Schiavo

Guns, Linux and Liberty. ;c)

129 posted on 10/21/2003 2:00:38 AM PDT by Coral Snake (Why do we allow a purjuring, software pirate traitor to continue to run our computers?)
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To: bonfire
I think the video of which people are speaking of is this one that was recently released

http://www.cnsnews.com/rm/2003/schindler101503/TerriSchindlerschivo08112001.ram
130 posted on 10/21/2003 2:57:31 AM PDT by Rosjeka
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To: wizardoz
Q: If Terri is given over to her parents, what will happen to Terri when her parents are deceased?
131 posted on 10/21/2003 3:36:10 AM PDT by Banjoguy (Police and Firemen/women are continually worth more then we can ever pay them.......)
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To: mercy
I suggest you change your screen name.
132 posted on 10/21/2003 3:41:05 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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To: Auntie Mame
Bump so I can find later.
133 posted on 10/21/2003 3:47:16 AM PDT by Marie Antoinette (Caaaarefully poke the toothpick through the plastic...)
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To: Auntie Mame
There have been numerous people here on FR who have claimed that this "greedy" man never spent any money on therapy for her, etc. The level of assumptions and ignorance, and downright lies, has been shocking.

The situation is a tragedy, but it's also tragic to see people react the way they have here on FR forums.
134 posted on 10/21/2003 3:51:14 AM PDT by Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh
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To: LPM1888; MattAMiller
MattAMiller;You know, if I'm ever in Terri's position I hope they remove the tube.

Fine. Write it in a living will.

LPM1888; I feel the same way! Prolonging her agony is cruel.

What makes you think that she is in agony?

Aside from that inflicted by being starved to death I mean.

135 posted on 10/21/2003 3:58:40 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (It's none of your business what I do in the woods nosy Humans!)
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To: basil
It's really hard to make judgements of any of them, having never walked in their shoes.

And yet, these threads are full of this very thing......

Aahhhhh, irony......

136 posted on 10/21/2003 4:07:45 AM PDT by The Coopster (Tha's no ordinary rabbit!)
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To: Auntie Mame
BULL FEATHERS MICHAEL.....I SIMPLY SAY BULL FEATHER!!!!!
137 posted on 10/21/2003 4:08:08 AM PDT by conservativeammom
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To: Auntie Mame; All
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 would like to know if anyone on this forum knows anything at all about whether this statment is true or not?

138 posted on 10/21/2003 4:24:37 AM PDT by SwordofTruth
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To: wizardoz
"I quit loving her long ago. I love someone else now. She's in the way. She's on my nerves. She's gotta go."

Thanks for the translation of Scumbagese in to plain English.

139 posted on 10/21/2003 4:29:20 AM PDT by shezza
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To: Banjoguy
She's got a brother and a sister who are fighting for her alongside her parents.
140 posted on 10/21/2003 4:30:51 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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