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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

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.

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.

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!

She's right, we are to honor life.

God loves loves life. He loves life when it is easy and He loves life when it is hard.

This is a great find. Thank you so much for posting it.

Those paragraphs are the same that I had just copied and was about to paste. Worth repeating, because as a mom of a precious little fella that is "non-cognitive, non-mobile" I try to let others know exactly what this mom wrote here whenever I can.
These children, folks are a blessing. My son touches apart of my heart no one else ever has and I never knew was there.

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.

Eloquent Insight!