[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.

[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.

[MHGinTN]

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

[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!!!!

[tutstar]

ping

[FairWitness]

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

bttt

[Blood of Tyrants]

2 Timothy 3: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

[William Wallace]

Flagging a few other good folks who will appreciate this.

xsm, bring a hankie. :-)

[Hildy]

There are a lot of arguments, pro and con to this one, but this has to be the stupidest. If it were reversed, the wife could make the decision for her husband. People will stop at nothing to feed their own agendas.

[cyn]

Thanks for posting; why not post entire article?

[T'wit]

Deeply moving.

[Saundra Duffy]

Thank you for posting this piece from a Mother who walks the walk every day. What an inspiration!

[Saundra Duffy]

I wish this woman could join the Schindler's on Larry King Live. What a great spokesperson!!!!

[Prince Charles]

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

Indeed! If the Left is allowed to murder Terri, then it's just a short leap of logic before they begin clamoring to "put down" Alzheimer's patients, terminal cancer patients, and on from there. Shades of Nazi Germany and Hitler's satanic schemes to get rid of "undesirables."

[BossLady]

Awesome post!

[Lion in Winter]

I find all your posts always so good and I wanted you to read this wonderful article. I know your freeper interests lie in other areas, but this article is just outstanding.

Regards, LION