Statement by Michael Schiavo

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

[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.

[basil]

No--I didn't know about your child, and God will have a special place for both of you one day. It takes a special sort of person to deal with what you have been given, and it's good to know that there are loving parents such as you out there.

I hope no one got the impression that I wasn't on Terri's side--far from it!

[Augustinefan]

Sure you can choke and gag on a swab...just place it strategically in the back of your throat so it touches the back of the palette, then CRAM it down. This always causes a gag and choking reflex on me. OOOPS! Does this mean I'M a vegetable too???

I can't believe the Nursing Board gave Michael Schiavo a license. They must be willing to pass anyone!

[Augustinefan]

Actually, I think he's MORE afraid of Terri regaining her ability to communicate and implicating him as the perpetrator in the action that brought her to this point. Frankly, he behaves like a man who's hiding something. Perhaps he's afraid that, if she rehab's enough, she may just divorce him and he won't be able to collect on the life insurance or the settlement.

He's more a moron than a creep. As though the rest of the world is too stupid to read between the lines.

What I want to know is, why is there not an automatic shutoff to a guardian that stands to benefit financially if the patient dies. Isn't this a no-brainer??? Why hasn't the legislature acted on this? If no living will, then no treatment can be stopped....period! I realize that spouses are privvy to statements made by the other that never get put into words, but this just seems weird to me. How does a guy who stands to benefit financially, legally and sexually if his wife dies get to say, "turn off the tap"? Does it really take a brain surgeon to get a clue on this one?

[Augustinefan]

"You say you won't divorce her because you are Catholic"

Actually, as I have heard it, he isn't a baptized Catholic. If he was so concerned about Terri's Catholicism and the marital vow, why did he then deny her the Final Unction with a final reception of Communion? The priest could have even brought a single drop of the Precious Blood to her, preventing any concern of choking. This is probably the one thing every Catholic wants, and is entitled to, before they die. He's operating like the Mafia when they would send a hooker to their enemies and then blow them away after they did the nasty. Only, the Mafia is a little bit nicer. When they liked you, they would send a priest to give you Final Unction and Communion before they "off-ed" you.

Hey...there's a thought. Where is the Mafia when you need them? They could "educate" Michael!

[Augustinefan]

"This woman is dead. Her soul has already left her body."

First, I would challenge you to prove that. This is only an opinion and, unless you are God or have sufficient evidence of being close to the equivalent, you can never KNOW this. I would recommend reading Kate Adamson's book. Or just read the transcript of her interview by Bill O'Reilly at the following link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102388,00.html

This would chill anyone to the bone.

Second, there are many with Cerebal Palsy and Lou Gherig's disease who would be in sharp contrast to this statement, since there are new technologies that allow them the ability to communicate as never before via computers.

The problem here is you use your own bias of what you determine "quality of life" to support your position. Hitler held this bias towards the disabled and later, to the Jews. It is a subjective viewpoint, and the markers defining "quality of life" are variable dependant on each individual's view. This is not a good position with which to base absolute laws.

It would be one thing if there was agreement in the medical community regarding this woman's condition. There isn't. Based on the extreme conflict in this case, the prudent thing to do is to exhaust all other options prior to ordering the removal of a feeding tube, since the effects of that are permanent with no opportunity for reconsideration. I challenge the idea that these options have been exhausted, since there have been nurses who have testified to giving Mrs. Schiavo Jello by mouth successfully. Why would this man, who claims he "loves his wife" object to spending a little more time to make sure this avenue is pursued? Being in a rush to pull a tube now, even though he was anxious to "take care of her himself" during a malpractice suit hearing seems a little dubious to say the least.

And he doesn't HAVE to stay married to a vegetable (if she really were.) Divorce is still an option, and noone would critisize him for it.

[Augustinefan]

"Thank God we don't send women into combat yet. Still a small shred of sanity left. "

ROFLMAO!!! I'm sure that Private Lynch and her roommate who, by the way, DIED in combat, would disagree!

[cyn]

Bump this into ‘04. This was missing keywords (bull---- doesn’t count, lol; there’s SO much of that around!)

No crime found against Schiavo, police say -- current unbelievable chapter.

Please keep Terri in your prayers. She is now missing TWO teeth, has a decubitus ulcer, and false allegations against her parents (that are already shown to be untrue) keep her from having any visitors now. Another local lawyer has just this week volunteered to help the family; he sounds like a promising addition to her team. Additional PR for Terri is being considered as well.

If anyone would like their freeper name added to an Easter box I'm sending Terri (guess I have to pack up the fluffy bunny on my ‘puter now), please post or freepmail me -- I’ll send it express tomorrow.

Let me know if you want on or off an INFREQUENT Terri ping list for the most important updates. If I know your special interests, I'll try to ping you to those in addition.

[Saundra Duffy]

Pig from hell. Nobody ever said there'd be a CURE for Terri - only that she has a right to life and not killed by this creep by STARVATION!