Terri's Fight - (Daily Thread/Updates) November 24-30

Various | November 23, 2003 | sweetliberty

[mickie]

Also, I was surprised to read that Terri did not marry a Catholic.
I assume that means she did not receive the Sacrement of Marriage.
I had understood that she was a devout Catholic.
If that was the case then I'm sure her parents must have been distressed by her decision.

[msmagoo]

Partial timeline:

_ Feb. 25, 1990: Terri Schiavo collapses in her home. Doctors believe a potassium imbalance caused her heart to stop, temporarily cutting off oxygen to her brain.

_ Nov. 1992: Terri's husband, Michael, wins malpractice suit that accused doctors of misdiagnosing his wife; jury awards more than more than $700,000 for her care, Michael receives an additional $300,000.

_ Feb. 14, 1993: Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, have a falling out with Michael over the malpractice suit money and Terri's care.

_ July 29, 1993: Bob and Mary Schindler file petition to have Michael Schiavo removed as Terri's guardian. The case is later dismissed.

_ May 1998: Michael Schiavo files petition to remove Terri's feeding tube.

_ Feb. 11, 2000: Circuit Judge George W. Greer rules feeding tube can be removed.

_ Jan. 24, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's decision.

_ March 29, 2001: Greer rules feeding tube to be removed April 20.

_ April 18, 2001: Florida Supreme Court refuses to intervene in the case.

_ April 20, 2001: U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara grants the Schindlers a stay until April 23 to exhaust appeals.

_ April 23, 2001: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to intervene.

_ April 24, 2001: Feeding tube is removed from Terri Schiavo.

_ April 26, 2001: Circuit Judge Frank Quesada orders doctors to reinsert Terri's feeding tube; the Schindlers pursue lawsuit against Michael Schiavo, accusing him of committing perjury by saying his wife did not want to be kept on life support.

_ April 30, 2001: Lawyers for Michael Schiavo file emergency motion with appellate court asking for the court to order removal of Terri's feeding tube.

_ July 11, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal sends case back to Greer.

_ July 18, 2001: Schindlers ask Judge Greer to let their doctors evaluate Terri before making a final decision on removing the feeding tube.

_ Aug. 10, 2001: Judge Greer denies the Schindlers' evaluation request, as well as their request to remove Michael Schiavo as guardian.

_ Sept. 26, 2001: Schindlers' attorneys argue before 2nd District Court of Appeal, citing testimony from seven doctors who say Terri can recover with the right treatment.

_ Oct. 3, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal delays removal of feeding tube indefinitely.

_ Oct. 17, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal rules that five doctors can examine Terri to determine whether she has any hope of recovery. Two doctors are picked by the Schindlers, two are picked by Michael Schiavo and one is picked by the court.

_ Feb. 13, 2002: Mediation attempts fail; Michael Schiavo again seeks to be allowed to remove Terri's feeding tube.

_ Oct. 12, 2002: Weeklong hearing begins in the case. Three doctors, including the one appointed by the court, testify that Terri is in a persistent, vegetative state with no hope of recovery. The two doctors selected by the Schindlers say she can recover.

_ Nov. 12, 2002: The Schindlers' attorney says medical records suggest Terri's condition may have been brought on by physical abuse, and asks for more time to get more evidence.

_ Nov. 22, 2002: Judge Greer rules that there is no evidence that Terri has any hope of recovery and orders feeding tube to be removed Jan. 3, 2003.

_ Dec. 13, 2002: Judge Greer stays order to remove feeding tube on Jan. 3 until the 2nd District Court of Appeal reviews the case.

_April 4, 2003: Schindlers' attorneys ask Second District Court of Appeal panel to "err on the side of life" and overturn Greer's ruling.

_June 6, 2003: 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's ruling.

****************

It's too late for appeals, and even if it weren't, the 2nd District Court of Appeal has consistently favored Felos and Schiavo, ignoring the Schindler's claim MS abused his guardianship, ignoring the lack of 'clear and convincing evidence', ignoring seven doctors who said Terri can be rehabilitated, and ignoring the court's duty to "err on the side of life."

Justice in Pinellas County for Terri was a sham, nothing more, until the legislature intervened.

[Orlando]

Let's not forget these..

Oct. 2003, Freerepublic and numberous other groups across
America join the fight to save Terri, and reveal
the truth.


Let's not forget that in November of 2004, VOTE JUDGE GREER
out of office.....We know (Greer is a Republican) who cares..any idea who's running against this rat ??

[Orlando]

Nov. 8th, 1984

[Orlando]

I was wondering about Terri hairdresser?
Was this person ever interviewed ?


http://www.msnbc.com/news/985278.asp?0sl=23&cp1=1

[KDubRN]

Let's not forget that in November of 2004, VOTE JUDGE GREER
out of office.....We know (Greer is a Republican) who cares..any idea who's running against this rat ??

Nobody yet.

[msmagoo]

July 27, 2001: Sex-assault victim's mom seeks judge's ouster
The mother of a sexual-assault victim has collected more than 1,000 signatures in 10 days in an attempt to recall the judge who sentenced one of the attackers to probation.

Sonja Taulbee staked out the courthouse seeking the 4,526 necessary signatures.

The judge, Mark K. Wiest of Wayne County Common Pleas Court, said an unpopular decision is not legal grounds for recalling a public official.

"We'd be replacing people every week,'' Wiest said. "I understand her anger. I understand she does not like the sentence I imposed. It's certainly not a reason for removing a public official.''

The family's protests started within days after Wiest sentenced Gerald Bess II, 30, of Wooster on July 13 to three years' probation.

July 24, 2001, background:
The sentence enraged Taulbee, so much she has dedicated her time to collecting the signatures needed to recall Wiest, whose term as a Common Pleas judge runs through January 2005.

"Every day that I'm here, it'll be here," Taulbee said of the petition. "I'm gonna do something because I have so much support. I never realized this much was going on in this town."

That effort will take more signatures than Taulbee originally thought, though. According to Patty Johns, director of the Wayne County Board of Elections, Taulbee must collect the signatures of 4,526 registered Wayne County voters. Taulbee thought she needed just 3,012. By the end of last week, she had more than 1,000.

"You have to put on the petition the reasons why (it is being circulated)," Johns said, "and it has to be signed by 15 percent of those who voted in the gubernatorial election. In Wayne County, that's 4,526.

"If it is a judge of the common pleas court, then it goes to the district court. It's filed in the court of appeals."

In this case, the petition would be filed in the Ninth District Court of Appeals. Once the complaint has been received, a hearing must be set within 30 days. The court must notify the person whom the complaint was filed against at least 10 days before the hearing.

The procedure can be heard by a judge or a 12-person jury. If the defendant wishes to have a jury trial, he must notify the court in writing.

"If nine or more of the jury finds one or more of the charges in the complaint is true," Johns said, the judge would be removed from office.

"If it is less than nine," she said, "the jury returns a finding that the complaint be dismissed."

Wiest did not return a call seeking comment on the petition.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GREER and the other incompetents who deny Terri and, by extension, all disabled people their rights should be given the boot! A resident of Pinellas County has to initiate the petition.

[floriduh voter]

Visit sptimes.com and do a search under Terri Schiavo or Terri Schindler. They did a bio of Terri as a person 2 or 3 weeks ago. They re-humanized her instead of portraying Terri as a vegetable. Better late than never. All personal info was in that article. fregards, FV

[pickyourpoison]

I was involved in getting signatures to have an item voted on in the county where I'm at.
If someone in Pinellas County gets this going, go to the flea markets to get signatures.
Just get close to the entrances. You'll get hundreds of signatures in no time at all.

[msmagoo]

We need someone living in Pinellas County to get it going...flea markets, Registry of Motor Vehicles, anywhere dozens of people are passing by. Signitures must be those of register voters, though.

Golden Gate, floriduh voter:
A thousand words about the Terri Schiavo you never knew

[floriduh voter]

We started petitions to recall Judge Greer when Terri was being starved to death. Someone else is in charge of the Petitions. (I was on cbs or abc talking about recalling Judge Greer and screaming at the Republican Party in general).

I walked off with their 3K microphone after my diatribe. Never did see how much they put on their broadcast.

It's confusing here. Channel 10 is really on Channel 12. I was screaming at Karl Rove too, begging Jeb for mercy and I mentioned Free Republic as well.

NEWBIES, THIS FORUM IS FOR ACTIVISTS who do reports which sometimes include themselves. Part of joining Free Republic is that you can be an activist, just post or lurk.

Activists generally report what they witness and also what they did. On the Terri threads, mentioning what "we do" is being considered bragging but it's actually part of what freeping is.

Further, if anyone personally attacks someone else at Free Republic, don't expect others to be silent. Remember the Dixie Chicks? They had a right to say it but there were consequences.

I will be attending Terri's Birthday Party on December 3rd.

I recommend that freepers contact ALL THE MEDIA THEY CAN THINK OF to advise them that it's Terri's 40th birthday, instead of a funeral. There's going to be a BIG CELEBRATION in front of Hospice Woodside. Visit terrisfight.org for other details.

[msmagoo]

I wish I could be there too...!
Bring a big old BOOT to the Birthday Party and set it up next to the Petition to Recall Greer and the other Pinellas Circus Bozos!

"Give Greer the Boot!"

[floriduh voter]

The Petitions are on hold at the moment. Judge Greer DID GO AGAINST MICHAEL on Tuesday, 10-21-03 so right now, it's been requested that we lay off the Judges. Whatever terrisfight.org says we are adhering to.

If the Judges GO BAD, then we have Judge Baird to add to our recall petition. IMPORTANT: LAY OFF THE JUDGES FOR NOW... Alert the media about Terri's birthday and visit terrisfight.org for action items. Fregards, FV

[Orlando]

Maybe it's a good idea to resume collecting signatures
to remove Greer, and support whoever runs against him in 2004..
He almost committed murder on a victim of domestic violence.
How many signatures of voters we need ?
4,000, 5,000, or higher ?

[msmagoo]

Good advice on both sides; hope for the best, plan for the worst...

[KDubRN]

Good advice on both sides; hope for the best, plan for the worst...
agree. I'd like a headstart on the sigs.

[msmagoo]

Sweetliberty, remember posting the story about Anne Shapiro, the woman who awakened after a 30-year-long coma? This article has pictures of Mrs. Shapiro and her husband, before and after her amazing recovery. She just passed away November 8 of this year.

Mrs Rip van Winkle's love story finally ends

BY RON LAYTNER
Sunday, November 23, 2003

Anne Shapiro and her loving, devoted husband, Martin, hold a picture taken on their wedding day.

EVERYONE knows of Rip Van Winkle, the fabled Dutchman who fell asleep under a tree and awoke seven years later. The story of Anne Shapiro, though, is no fantasy. For, this Canadian woman slept in a coma for 30 years, but awakened to a strange, new and modern world that stunned her.

She was called 'Mrs Rip Van Winkle' because she accomplished what no other human ever had. But Anne Shapiro lived a life and enjoyed a love story like no other woman in recorded history.

Shapiro's amazing story began when she fell into a coma in 1963 on the day John F Kennedy was assassinated. When she finally awoke in 1992, she was shocked to find she was a 79-year-old granny, devastated by her appearance and the dramatic way in which the world had changed.

Anne Shapiro at 80 looks in a mirror and compares her appearance in 1992 to that seen in her portrait above before she suffered a stroke and went into a coma for 30 years.

"I was staring at a stranger," she told this reporter a few days later. "When I went to sleep I was a darn good looking woman. But it seemed when I awoke the very next day and looked into a mirror, I saw an old woman with bags under her eyes and gray hair."

She couldn't believe that her husband, Martin, was an old man; that her teenage son, Marshall, and 25-year-old daughter, Marilyn, were middle-aged.

Anne Shapiro after she awoke from her 30-year coma. 'I was a darn good looking woman when I went to sleep,' she said.

And she was awe-struck to learn about cordless phones, colour TVs and the Apollo 11 space flight.

The talented businesswoman was preparing to go nationwide franchising apron shops like two she had in Hamilton, Ontario when she fell into her coma on November 22, 1963.

She was watching news reports of the shocking assassination of President Kennedy on her black and white television set when she suffered a massive stroke.

For two years, Shapiro was totally paralysed with her eyes wide open, a condition known as "Dolls Eyes". Her husband, Martin, then 51, put drops into her eyes every two hours around the clock to prevent them drying out, and went on to do it for the 30 years she slept.

Martin Shapiro, a steel foundry employee, dressed and fed her "like a totally helpless child," he said. "She couldn't walk or think." She couldn't move at all for two years. Finally, she could be held up and, with assistance on either side, was able to walk short distances. But she remained an unthinking 'rag doll'.

Martin Shapiro bathed and dressed her, and brushed her long hair. At night, he lay next to his sleeping beauty in the darkness, praying she would come back. He consulted experts, even took her to the famed Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, but no one could help her.

As the years passed, the Shapiros' son and daughter married and each had children; and many of Anne's friends died. The Vietnam War ended. Astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate Scandal. Communism collapsed and the world entered the computer age.

During her long sleep, Shapiro's body began breaking down. She had cataract surgery, a hysterectomy and a hip replacement operation.

But amazingly, on October 14, 1992, Anne Shapiro suddenly snapped out of her coma. Martin Shapiro, 81, who had retired and moved his wife to West Palm Beach, Florida, was flabbergasted. "I was laying beside her in bed," he recalled, "when she sat up and said, 'Turn on the television. I want to see I love Lucy'.

"It was like a dead person come to life." Shapiro got her first shock when she realised the television shows were in colour and not black and white.

But she was really stunned by her husband's grandfatherly appearance and her own wrinkled face. "When she first looked in the mirror, she wanted to die," said Martin Shapiro. She hollered and asked God what she had done to deserve what had happened to her. Then she cried and cried over all those lost years."

Shapiro's first thoughts were of her son, Marshall. The day before her stroke, Martin Shapiro had kicked the 18-year-old Marshall out of the house because he had crashed the family car.

"She wanted me to bring Marshall home," said Martin Shapiro. As he dialled their son's number, he told her that Martin was now 48 years old, married and the father of a son and daughter. At first she was afraid to get on the line and talk to him because it was a cordless phone.

"The phone didn't have any wires attached to it," she recalled, "A voice was coming out of it and I thought it must be magic." When she first spoke to her middle-aged son, she cruelly told him: "My son is a young fellow. I don't want to talk to you."

Then she asked to speak to her sister, Rose, only to be told by Martin that Rose and her husband were dead -- and that her three brothers had passed away too. Shapiro's daughter, Marilyn Pomerantz, then 55, flew from Canada to Florida to help her mother adjust.

As the shock waves ebbed, Shapiro desperately tried to catch up on what had happened in the world. She stayed up around the clock for two days. Dr Glenn Englander, who was treating Shapiro for high blood pressure the day she awakened from her coma, called her recovery a miracle.

"I gave her something to lower her blood pressure," said the West Palm Beach doctor. "If I did something unknowingly to help her, I'd like to find out so I can do it for other people."

The most touching part of the miracle was the renewed romance between Anne and her devoted Martin, who had cared for her all those years. "We both could hardly walk but she wanted me to take her dancing," he told this reporter.

The couple appeared on several major television shows and studio audiences and viewers around the world wept with compassion when Martin explained why he hadn't put Anne into a nursing home and gone on with his life as many suggested.

"When I married," he said simply, "I pledged to be with Anne in sickness and in health and I stuck to my vow."

Sadly, Martin Shapiro died nine years ago. Their son, Marshall, soon followed. Anne Shapiro was placed in the Senior's Health Centre at Toronto's North York General Hospital.

Her biggest excitement in her last years was when a movie was made of her miraculous awakening. It starred singer Reba McEntire.

"That's me," laughed Anne Shapiro, the last time I spoke with her. "I can't wait to see it."

Anne Shapiro lived in the health centre for several years, talking to nurses when spoken to. But mostly, she looked out a window, drifting back and forth between 1963 -- the younger year she preferred -- and the violent world of today.

On the night of November 8, just 14 days before the 40th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination, she went into a coma. "Mrs Rip Van Winkle" went back into 1963 once more, and this time she didn't come back.

Anne Shapiro, the woman who entered a coma at 50 and woke up 30 years later, finally died at the age of 90.

[sweetliberty]

Awwwww.....well, I guess they're together again now.

[msmagoo]

It's an incredible story - hard to believe it really happened, but it did!

I wonder what medication Dr. Englander gave Mrs. Shapiro for her blood pressure, and if any studies were done to see if it might help other coma patients?

[FatherOfLiberty]

"We don't need to have a trial, we don't need to have discovery," Felos said.

Just catching up on the latest with Terri - was away for a few days with family. A pleasant trip.

When I read this quote, I was immediately reminded of a famous quote from the old Humphrey Bogart movie "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." A Mexican bandit, posing as a policeman (federale) confronts Bogart's character. Bogart asks him to show him his badge if he is really the police. The bandit replies, "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!" (Click here for a wav audio clip to get the full effect of the intonation.)

I'd like to modify this famous quote for Felos: "Trial? We ain't got no trial. We don't need no trial! We don't need to give you any stinkin' trial!