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.

[Qwinn]

"You know, if I'm ever in Terri's position I hope they remove the tube."

Perhaps. I might even feel the same way.

But, if so, we should leave a living will, rather than stand for the position that the State should accept oral testimony expressing such a wish, especially from those who have a conflict of interest, and especially when the artifical measures required to keep her alive are so unintrusive (and mandated by her conflicted guardian on top of it).

The -only- way, IMHO, that something like this should be allowed to happen is if the person it is being done to put it -in writing-.

The fact that the default when quality of life is in question is "death" is very frightening to me. That doesn't make the slope just too slippery, it makes it a cliff face.

Qwinn

[anglian]

He has to lose guardianship of her or else.

[supercat]

He has to lose guardianship of her or else.

How do we encourage the legislature to amend the guardian ad litem statute to enumerate certain cases in which one must be appointed, regardless of whether or not a judge feels there is a "possible conflict of interest"?

If Terri were allowed a guardian ad litem, Schiavo would have lost guardianship years ago.

[bonfire]

How long has he been living with this other woman?

[yesnettv]

EGPWS
This statement is a blatant lie, not a discrepancy.

[anglian]

I not familiar with the legalities but he's got another woman,kids, he's moved on

[California74]

I think the starving to death and dehydration is the cruelest thing ever. Especially since it is obvious that she feels pain and can even express so! (did you see the videos on her site - terrisfight.org?) I've never seen a vegetable do that.

[supercat]

I not familiar with the legalities but he's got another woman,kids, he's moved on

Yes, but if Judge Greer declares he's still a fit guardian and declares that there's no conflict of interest, then HINO stays protected.

[mercy]

Any decent person would and any decent person would not wish to keep a vegetable lying in a bed for decades taking up millions of health care dollars that could be spent on someone who could actually benefit from treatment.

This entire situation so perfectly illustrates the perversity of man. This woman is dead. Her soul has already left her body.

And yet the ghouls here slander this poor man who has had to suffer through this hell for all these years. I'd like to see them stay married to a vegetable for a decade.

[AntiGuv]

They've been engaged over seven years, iirc, and he's fathered at least one child with her.

[anglian]

Laws have been ....broken. And some of us were willing to brake one ourselves earlier! Whatever it takes.I wouldnot trust him with my cat.

[bonfire]

Thanks. I knew about the kid, just not how long they have been "officially" together.

[supercat]

And yet the ghouls here slander this poor man who has had to suffer through this hell for all these years. I'd like to see them stay married to a vegetable for a decade.

Why did he not seek a divorce? A court would have granted him one in no time flat.

[mercy]

Spoken like a true Christian. You are intimately aware of all the facts here I'm sure. A loving Christian such as yourself would never read a few newspaper articles and decide they actually know everything that has transpired over a several year period. No never. Your Lord would never do such a thing and so neither would you. You would never stone one caught in adultery nor fail to give absolution to a retched theif dying on a cross.

[anglian]

millions of health care dollars / That was done to an illigal alien in Florida a while back who was in a car wreck.

[DeepInEnemyTerritory]

I'm almost speechless. BULLS**T! Jim will ban me if I say any more.

[supercat]

You are intimately aware of all the facts here I'm sure.

Probably moreso than you.

[Fighting Irish]

bttt

[oreolady]

Yeah, poor man, so busy ***rewing his brains out with his live-in, keeping watch at the hospice, making sure no teeth brushed, no flowers, no Mom and Dad visits, talking to his lawyer about the next legal move, poor guy.
Oh, and had to watch that bank balance, too, don't forget his 300k for lack of nooky he was paid!

[supercat]

Oh, and had to watch that bank balance, too, don't forget his 300k for lack of nooky he was paid!

Does MS's first initial stand for "Michael" or "Menendez"?