What I know as the mother of a "non-cognitive, vegetative state" 16-year-old

Jewish World Review ^ | Oct. 30, 2003/ | Marianne M. Jennings

[SJackson]

The quest for utopian socialism has its twists and turns. A woman has the right to choose when it comes to the life of her unborn child. But, in the exception-ridden liberal conscience, choice regarding her own life belongs to her husband. Husbands have no say in wives' abortions, but, according to those wacky Florida courts, they have the final say on their wives' lives. In the case of 39-year-old Terri Schiavo, her husband, complete with mistress and their children, wants her starved to death. A Florida court, finally halted in its unrighteous dominion by another Bush, ordered it so. Liberals oppose the death penalty for criminals, but not for innocents.

[SJackson]

When loved ones slip into vegetative states, life becomes so messy. The costs, the work, the clipped wings from the demands of care. But, Mrs. Schiavo's parents want to give that care and physicians have volunteered for pro bono services. Mr. Schiavo has no worries.

That Mrs. Schiavo is still alive is the answer to this so-called ethical dilemma. Our souls are too shallow and our minds too finite to comprehend why Mrs. Schiavo is still here with us. She and our other "vegetables" are a treasure trove of insight. Humility abounds in their minds, so unaffected by the shallow demands of a world that measures worth by trivial materialistic pursuits. They offer the lessons of unconditional love and the blessings of service.

As the parent of a "non-cognitive, vegetative state" 16-year-old, who was, by all medical experts, not destined to live more than six months, I offer advice. Seize the opportunity to honor life, in all its forms. A body not constrained by the pettiness of appearance or consumed by the drive of ambition is a glimpse of the purity of heaven. Spend fleeting moments in the company of these angels. They will leave us all too soon, even with their feeding tubes intact. The veil between the eternities and this world turns transparent when you look into what medical science calls "non-responsive eyes." When you catch a glimpse of that beyond you will wonder, "Who wouldn't want to live in their utopia?"

And I do mean live.

JWR contributor Marianne M. Jennings is a professor of legal and ethical studies at Arizona State University

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[I still care]

Thank you so much for posting this. This woman is eloquent out of the depths of her experience.

[Dante3]

What continues to shock me is how many are supporting Michael's attempt to what obvously is not to divorce but to kill his wife. There was no such uproar over Sunny von Buhlen who is in much worse state than Terri.

[FITZ]

The costs,

And with the almost $2 million from the lawsuit, Michael should not be too concerned with costs. He got plenty of money to provide for her basic needs --- a daily bath, a few feedings through a tube, bedsore prevention, but not much more. $2 million is a lot more than most people have for a bedridden loved one.

[Cicero]

What she says at the start is something not everyone will accept these days, but I believe it is true. People have souls. If you look into the eyes of someone who is very ill, or has Altzheimers, or is mentally retarded, you still catch glimpses of a soul every bit as human as the souls of the most alert and intelligent people. You can see love there.

I presume that even if Terri never recovers, her soul is still there in her body. If her brain is damaged, her mind and soul are not damage. They merely lack some of the means of communicating with the outside world.

She is still a living human being, which is to say that her soul is still healthy, whatever the condition of her body.

[mass55th]

Wow!! What a fantastic article from someone who knows first hand. She should be on the Schindler's legal team. God bless her, Claire, Terri and the Schindlers.

[lupie]

She and our other "vegetables" are a treasure trove of insight. Humility abounds in their minds, so unaffected by the shallow demands of a world that measures worth by trivial materialistic pursuits. They offer the lessons of unconditional love and the blessings of service...A body not constrained by the pettiness of appearance or consumed by the drive of ambition is a glimpse of the purity of heaven.

Wow! What a Godly truth that never entered my head. Thank you so much for posting that. What an inspiration to humble myself more at His feet.

Amen and amen!

[ecru]

So true, Cicero.

I can't even begin to imagine the pain her parents must feel knowing that their daughter may be legally murdered. They have loved her since birth. And I am sure they know she is inside there loving them back. How tragic this story is. =(

[Magnolia]

Very, very well stated Cicero. Thanks.

[MHGinTN]

The goal is selective disenfranchisement, and it is based on dehumanization. We know this is the methodology because we've seen how abortion on demand has elevated the liberty of a woman so far above the LIFE of the unborn little one that the little one is no longer considered 'human enough'. The imperious courts in Florida have determined that Terri is not 'human enough' and their remedy is to grant ownership of her body to the man seeking to 'move on with his life' ... his 'quality of life', his liberty, trumps Terri's LIFE, in the sick, twisted liberal minds of the imperios courts of Florida. Once the courts bought into Terri no longer being 'person enough', the rest was easy to push through.

[MHGinTN]

PING)))))) to an important read. If you would like to be removed from this ping list, please just drop me a freepmail.

[AbsoluteJustice]

I agree with your comment on this but up to a point. The legislature had NO RIGHT whatsoever to step in and over ride a courts decision that had been in the courts over a period of 10 years and passed by 15+ judges desks. Let me tell you why.

Evidence had been provided in court over and over again about this womans wishes to have a living will by word of mouth. Now I know many in here have said that the husband has ill intentions but don't you all think that that evidence made it to court and judges weighed that evidence? Apparently it had no weight. What right does the legislature have to step in and go against oa court ruling and someones RIGHT and personal wishes to die if in a vegetative state with very little brain activity? This is an overstepping of power and an infringement on someones rights. The ONLY people that know what Terri's wishes were are her, her husband, and her maker. Florida LAW states that if said person is unable to render such a decision, as is the case with Terri, then her CUSTODIAN (her husband) has the right to render such decision. This is LAW people plain and simple. Now if you want to change the laws there is a process for this but that process is not to override a decision that has spent its course thru the courts.

Remember people this same thing happened during the Florida election fiasco and conservatives were yelling high and low that you do not change the rules once the verdict has been rendered and the law on the books after the game is played.

Why the hypocricy now?
15+ judges
10 years
Same law
Same verdict
Emotional hijacking over ones wishes
It is this simple.

[Diamond]

"Unless they are primary caregivers, doctors know little of the capabilities or desires of souls who remain captive in bodies that cannot function at full mental and/or physical speed. They view the smiles of glee and scrunched noses of distaste as "involuntary subcortical responses." What do they know of the power of a mother's voice? It induces eye flutters that spell out in Morse code, "I'm here. Talk to me again!"

The docs are cold-hearted because medicine is finite. Medicine cannot change these vegetative states. The same can be said of a hard-core addict or a victim of depression. Science has its limitations. But love and dedication combine with inner strength and miracles abound. Miracles need not be Lazarus-like risings from the bed to do the Macarena, but can emerge in the subtle sounds and movements of the indefatigable soul within screaming, "Hey, I'm alive!"

This is a powerfully written, eloquent article. I know firsthand that the statements about the soul are true because of the not too dissimilar way that we received blessings for 2 1/2 years from our son who had Down Syndrome.

Cordially,

[r9etb]

Outstanding post!!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[tutstar]

ping

[r9etb]

I agree with your comment on this but up to a point. The legislature had NO RIGHT whatsoever to step in and over ride a courts decision that had been in the courts over a period of 10 years and passed by 15+ judges desks.

Well, if you're going to make this argument based in "Florida LAW," then it seems perfectly appropriate that the Florida Legislature has a perfect right to change "Florida LAW" when it sees fit to do so.

[FairWitness]

Death row inmates get more time, appeals and reprieves than these innocents.

bttt