Posted on 02/15/2005 6:16:43 AM PST by NYer
Clearwater, Fl., Feb. 14, 2005 (CNA) - The awakening of a Kansas woman from a 20-year coma has encouraged Terri Schindler Schiavo’s family in their fight to keep their daughter alive.
Sarah Scantlin fell into a coma after being hit by a drunk driver 20 years ago, but she has begun to speak and remember her past. Her brain was injured so badly that doctors first feared she would spend her life in a vegetative state. But a week ago, Scantlin began speaking and doctors have no explanation.
Terri’s parents, brother and sister hope the Florida courts will consider what happened to Scantlin, as well as a new brainwave test, and think of Terri.
"In light of the miraculous awakening of Miss Sarah Scantlin in Kansas and the success of the new brainwave test reported in the New York Times this week, my daughter deserves to have this test before she is starved to death by judicial decree," said Terri’s father, Bob Schindler, in a written statement issued Feb. 11.
The New York Times article said this new brainwave test could “have consequences for legal cases in which parties dispute the mental state of an unresponsive patient.”
Video tape aired on CNN Headline News of Scantlin with her mother is extremely similar to footage of Terri and her mother, available on the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation Web site (www.terrisfight.org).
Terri’s parents plan to travel to Hutchinson, Kansas, to meet Sarah and her family.
Terri Schiavo is not in a coma. She is awake, alert and can communicate. Her husband claims "she would not want to live like this", to justify his demand to terminate her life. When her parents told her 2 years ago that her feeding tube was to be removed, she tried to get out of her chair and escape the hospice where her husband keeps her incarcerated. She does not want to die.
I pray that Terri will find peace either in this world or the next. The challenge for those in charge of her fate is to know with certainty that she is aware and to what degree or that she is not aware. Pray for those people, too.
I stand corrected. I'm curious if the Kansas women also required a feeding tube.
Thanks!
Thanks for the ping!
Here's a link to the article: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/10887531.htm
Woman Wakes After 20 Year Coma, Impacts Terri Schaivo Legal Battle
by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, February 14, 2005
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Sarah Scantlin was unable to speak after an automobile accident in which a drunk driver crashed into her, leaving her in a coma. Though doctors believed her brain was injured so badly in the accident that should would never be able to talk again and spend her life in a vegetative state, Scantlin began speaking a week ago.
Sarah's friends and family gathered Saturday at the health care center where she lives to celebrate. "She's 100 percent Sarah again. The family is back together, and it's just simply a joyous situation," her father, Jim Scantlin, told CNN.
Scantlin was 18 when she was injured and, until last month, she was aware of her surroundings but unable to speak. Suddenly, she began talking to workers at the health care center.
"It just happened one day and nobody really knows why," said Sharon Kuepker, administrator for the Golden Plains Health Care Center.
Now, Scantlin is forming words, counting, and remembering people and places. "You condition yourself to be able to try to deal with something like this, and then all of the sudden, the world instantly changed from despair to joy because it's amazing how important communication is between human beings," her father told the Associated Press.
Doctors have no explanation but pro-life advocates believe the case proves that Terri Schiavo, who is not in a PVS state, could find her disabled condition improved if she were given proper medical care and rehabilitative treatment.
Robert Schindler, Terri's father, says he hopes the courts will see this "miracle" and think of Terri. "In light of the miraculous awakening of Miss Sarah Scantlin in Kansas and the success of the new brainwave test reported ... this week, my daughter deserves to have this test before she is starved to death by judicial decree," Schindler said.
Schindler is referring to a study released last week showing the level of neural activity of disabled patients who listened to tapes of their loved ones sharing family experiences matched that of the healthy patients.
The Schindlers say videotape shown on CNN of Sarah interacting with her parents prior to speaking is remarkably similar to videos of Terri interacting her family.
Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family says the Scantlin case shows why Florida courts should spare Terri Schiavo's life and prevent her estranged husband from ending her life.
"Terri Schiavo deserves the same chance at life that Sarah Scantlin was given," Dobson said. "Both cases have involved women who suffered debilitating injuries and continued to live in a disabled state. Today we celebrate the news that Ms. Scantlin has regained her memory and ability to speak, and is apparently on the road to recovery."
"Mental disabilities do not damage a person's worth -- the preciousness of life is not defined by one's abilities," Dobson added. "Those who suffer a disabling injury are entitled to the same right to life as we all are. Those seeking to take away Mrs. Schiavo's right to life should have second thoughts after hearing Sarah Scantlin's story."
LAST PARAGRAPH GREAT NEWS!!!!! Terri's parents are traveling to Kansas to meet with Sarah and her family
FV SAYS: PLEASE EMAIL THIS AND PUBLISH ELSEWHERE. Editor gave permission for re-distribution.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Euthanasia
2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.
2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.
2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.
2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.
**Those seeking to take away Mrs. Schiavo's right to life should have second thoughts after hearing Sarah Scantlin's story."**
Amen!
Sarah's beautiful and her timing is impeccable.
Terri ping! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!
Terri bump with a prayer!
Oh, I was praying this would help to impact Terri's case as I read about it when I was away this weekend. All I kept thinking was, "Thank you, God, for this miracle and Your perfect timing!!" How can we NOT believe the power of prayer and that there are miracles that defy science?? Wonder what that argumentative poster whose name starts with Cold thinks about this turn of events .. whaddya think, fv? Glorious news!!! Prayers for Terri and her family.
Nice!!
Jesus is always right on time!
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