A Way to Save Terri Schiavo

wotan | Feb 18, 2005 | wotan

[wotan]

Here's a way Jeb Bush may be able to save Terry Schiavo: Open an investigation into the possible assault that led to her comatose condition. Have the state pay for her maintenance to "preserve the evidence" and pay for language therapy for her so she can tell us what she knows about how she got into the coma. It struck me that the reason her husband wants her dead might be because he's afraid of what she'll say if she recovers. I don't see how a judge could possibly deny the state the right to preserve evidence of a serious assault.

Hope she's not dead yet.

[Raquel]

My grandmother, a widow, had 12 children, so when she became old enough that she couldn't care for herself on her own, she traveled from child to child's home, visiting and being cared for. Since my mom and her were very close, she spent extended periods of time at my home. At first, we used to sleep together and share a small bedroom. But later she refused to sleep with me because #1 I was growing bigger and bigger, and #2 she said I kicked her in my sleep. So off I went into my parents bedroom, in the corner I slept in a single bed, for months at a time. Everyone in my family helped "Abuela" we loved her dearly. She wasn't in any way incapacitated, but she did require change of a bed pan and other little things. She lived to be 84 and died a natural death. She lived a life of dignity, even if her family members were inconvenienced. I pray that my family is around to help me when I get old, because if my life was left in the State's hand, it would be my worst nightmare.

[bjs1779]

Yes, it would be the equivalent of putting a pillow over Karen Ann Quinlan's face.

[TAdams8591]

A beautiful story, Raquel. You and your family made sacrifices for your grandmother (your wonderful parents taught you well), and that is the way it should be. See my post #238 above.

[TAdams8591]

Pulling the feeding tube from Terri would be equivalent to putting a pillow over Karen Ann Quinlan's face.(bjs)

An excellent analogy, bjs.

Pulling the feeding tube from Terri would also be the equivalent of pulling the feeding tube from Karen Ann Quinlan (except that unlike Karen, Terri is not PVS - in a coma).

[bjs1779]

Just a refresher video showing how much Terri wants to die.

[bjs1779]

Same thing because Terri can eat if she were allowed to.

[bjs1779]

Does anyone know who this doctor is in this video?

Good Job

[Raquel]

Hey T, thanks! You're absolutely right about the pro-death culture, they'll use the most silliest of arguments just to get off-topic of the real issues surrounding life, death and dignity. A women recently told me that it's not fair to make a women keep a child from rape, but in the same breath agreed that conception from rape is extremely rare and all abortion does is confound the problem. We also discussed the fact that so many innocents die (4,000 a day) with no mercy or voice. The pro-death argument is surely a losing one. At least we know for sure God is pro-life, and through prayer and fasting, we can defeat the evilness in killing innocent life.

I read a story about Blessed Margaret of Castillo, Patron Saint of the Unwanted, I did a google search and found this account of her life:

Blessed Margaret of Citta-di-Castello.
It must have been about the year 1293 when some women of Citta-di-Castello in Umbria, who had gone one day to pray in their parish church, found within, a destitute blind child of about six or seven, who had been abandoned there by her parents. The kind souls were filled with pity for the little waif, and, poor though they were, they took charge of her-first one family and then another, sheltering and feeding her until she became practically the adopted child of the village. One and all declared that, far from being a burden, little Margaret brought a blessing upon those who befriended her. Some years later, the nuns of a local convent offered her a home. The girl rejoiced at the prospect of living with religious, but her joy was short-lived. The community was lax and worldly; Margaret's fervor was a tacit reproach to them, nor did she bring them the profit they had anticipated. Neglect was succeeded by petty persecution, and then by active calumny. Finally she was driven forth ignominiously to face the world once more.
However, her old friends rallied around her. One couple offered her a settled home, which became her permanent residence. At the age of fifteen, Margaret received the habit of a tertiary from the Dominican fathers, who had lately established themselves in Citta-di-Castello, and thence forth, she lived a life entirely devoted to God. More than ever did God's benediction rest upon her. She cured another tertiary of an affliction of the eyes which had baffled medical skill, and her mantle extinguished a fire which had broken out in her foster parents' house. In her desire to show her gratitude to the people of Citta-di-Castello, she undertook to look after the children while their parents were at work. Her little school prospered wonderfully, for she understood children, being very simple herself. She set them little tasks which she helped them to perform; she instructed them in their duty to God and to man, instilling into them her own great devotion to the sacred Childhood, and she taught them the psalms which, in spite of her blindness, she had learned by heart at the convent. We are told that when at prayer she was frequently raised a foot or more from the ground, remaining thus for a long time. Thus she lived, practically unknown outside her own neighborhood, until the age of thirty-three, when she died amidst the friends who loved her, and was buried by their wish in the parish church, where many remarkable miracles took place. The cult of Blessed Margaret was confirmed in 1609.

[TAdams8591]

Good point. You're RIGHT!

[Ohioan from Florida]

Whose ping list are you looking for? FV may be out for a few days.

[TAdams8591]

Another beautiful story. How nice of you to post it!

She is called Blessed? You called her patron SAINT of the unwanted. Was she ever canonized?

[TAdams8591]

Do you know who the doctor is?

That's just a REFLEX in the video. /sarcasm/

[Ohioan from Florida]

Yes, I do! I asked Terri's parents, and they told me that it is Dr. Ronald Cranford, one who sided with Michael in the courtroom. He lied on the courtroom stand. He said that Terri shows no cognition of her environment. Baloney! That video alone shows that at least from time to time, Terri is aware and intereacts with her environment. That she cannot do it consistently does not mean anything other than she has good times and bad times. Cranford is a jerk.

[snapperjk]

It is my understanding that Terri's parents are not allowed to visit Terri because of Michael's orders as husband/guardian

Not so. They have full access.

Terri's parents spoke and attended the pro-life March in Washington, D.C. in January where there were approximately 100,000 people, were you there?

No. It was a Pro-Life march.. not a march specifically for Terri. And yes, I am strong pro-life.

From what I've read at FR and elsewhere FR is a biog. Quote from FR web site: Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on Free Republic are those of the individual posters ....

many people suffer from disabilities and are being cared for by their parents

You're joking when you think Terri can be taking care of by her parents... get a grip.

We're defending life,...

Teri has been born, lived a life and is dying. What are you doing about those humans that never make the birth process but instead have their bid for life abruptly ended through abortion?

[Raquel]

I'm really not sure, I just assumed that she was, although she is listed on http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=233. Is there a distinction between "Blessed" and "Saint"?

[snapperjk]

You got access to the logbook at the hospice? You're able to know when her teeth are brushed and by whom? That's the kind of info an employee or other insider would have access to. Hmmm.

The fact that you typed HIPAA following your handle is interesting. Does that mean you are adding credibility to my postings? Others could look at the postings that I say are untrue and say those posters are in know. You don't refer to HIPAA when replying to the other posters. So does that mean you lack confidence in the credibility of those posts?

[bjs1779]

Yes, I do! I asked Terri's parents, and they told me that it is Dr. Ronald Cranford, one who sided with Michael in the courtroom. He lied on the courtroom stand. He said that Terri shows no cognition of her environment. Baloney! That video alone shows that at least from time to time, Terri is aware and intereacts with her environment.

Well, he was either lying when he was talking to Terri or he was lying to the court. Of course, little matters concerning the truth never interfered with Judge Greer's decisions, did it?

[Raquel]

"Not so. They have full access."

Prove it.

"It was a Pro-Life march.. not a march specifically for Terri."

Although the march was not specifically for Terri, you do realize that pro-life, means pro-life for all who are weak and vulnerable. In my eyes, the march was for Terri and all who are suffering from the effects of the American death culture.

"From what I've read at FR and elsewhere FR is a biog. Quote from FR web site: Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on Free Republic are those of the individual posters ...."

I meant the articles posted here at FR from various news sources not the blogs, replies or opinions, plus I said "and elsewhere" not elsewhere on other blogs.

"You're joking when you think Terri can be taking care of by her parents... get a grip."

I'm not joking at all, just ask them, they're in Court right now to take control of her care... you get a grip!

"Teri has been born, lived a life and is dying. What are you doing about those humans that never make the birth process but instead have their bid for life abruptly ended through abortion?"

For one I volunteer as a sidewalk counselor every Saturday in front of abortion mills. Secondly, Terri is not dying!! And even if she was, the dignity of her life is just as important. Pro-lifers - protecting life from conception through natural death. What pro-life group are you a part of?

[Ohioan from Florida]

Yes, there's a difference. 'Venerable' means that someone has been submitted for sainthood and that the Church is looking for further evidence. 'Blessed' is the next step, where at least one miracle has been attributed to the person. 'Saint' is one who has at least two miracles attributed to their intervention, and has been canonized by the Pope.

[Raquel]

"To suggest that the courts of Florida are predisposed to effectuating the death of a person out of a corrupt and malicious spirit is not only absurd, it's obscene and contemptable."

I guess you have a point. Being a judge is a difficult job and there is a predisposition of trust afforded. However, under the circumstances, you must admit that a judge can be biased with his/her own ideology, and this judge in particular seems to fit that mold. We have to call him on it, otherwise we fail the honest judges.