What is a persistent vegetative state? According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke people in PVS "have lost their thinking abilities and awareness of their surroundings, but retain non-cognitive function and normal sleep patterns. Even though those in a persistent vegetative state lose their higher brain functions, other key functions such as breathing and circulation remain relatively intact.
Spontaneous movements may occur, and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli. They may even occasionally grimace, cry, or laugh. Although individuals in a persistent vegetative state may appear somewhat normal, they do not speak and they are unable to respond to commands."
People suffering from PVS can generally be distinguished from afflicted but cognitively intact patients who suffer from "locked-in syndrome" by the fact that "locked in" patients can track visual stimuli and use eye blinks for communication.
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Terri goes Goo~Goo eyes over Attorney Gibbs By Cheryl Ford RN
February 25, 2005
Last night at hospice Terri's father, Robert Schindler and Attorney Gibbs visited with Terri. Mr. Schindler was the first to enter Terri's room, approaching Terri on her right. As always, Terri was delighted to see her Dad until Mr. Schindler announced that Mr. Gibbs was with him.
Mr. Gibbs moved closer to Terri's left greeting her with, "Hello Terri."
Terri, hearing Mr. Gibb's deep voice immediately turned to her left to look at him. Terri's Dad stated that once she eyed Mr. Gibbs that was the end of his visit with her because she was no longer interested in anything he had to say to her ... "she was goo-goo eyes over Attorney Gibbs."
Mr. Schindler then exclaimed, "Terri, Terri, look at me. I've come here to see you as well and now you cannot take your eyes off of Attorney Gibbs, what am I chopped liver?" Terri responded with laughter to her father's comment but her eyes remained focused on Mr. Gibbs.
Bob said, "Well, Cheryl that's the last time I will be taking Mr. Gibbs along with me since my daughter did not hear anything I had to say once he had her attention.
lol, I love it! thanks!!
amdg, we have here a classic stimulus / response. As another poster said, this shows that not only is Terri not in pvs, but she has a good eye, lol! I really appreciate Cheryl sharing her accounts, but I especially enjoyed this one -- please tell her, thanks.
The Schindlers really, really need to bring out the details of their visits with Terri in EVERY public appearance or interview. Most folks just do not know Terri's real condition and situation. And they need to point out that Terri has not had the ordinary care given to other patients in her condition, including the mandated swallow test.
I want to see a wheelchair delivered to hospice for Terri to get out in like she used to, since Michael Schiavo has not seen fit to have hers fixed.
That story is so cute. Terri recognized a good-lookin' man when she sees him!!!
I bet this fueled Mr. Gibbs to save her even more, as how can you buy into the BS from the other side when you see
for yourself that she just needs therapy.
Greer has never been to see her.
bump this wonderful account that demonstrates Terri's responsiveness -- see also #81 for A Visit With Terri Schiavo, an account of Attorney Barbara Weller's Christmas Eve 2004 visit with Terri.
thanks, Pegita, for posting that. May what has been hidden for so long finally come to light.
Jax & Jax media:
All of us at that press conference on 2/28, including all the media there, heard Bob Schindler tell the story (post #31) of his latest visit with a wonderfully responsive Terri. I heard laughs from the crowd as he talked about teasing Terri, and her laughing. He confirmed as an eyewitness what I read on the internet, printed out, and gave out to some in the crowd.
But no one asked for clarification ("But wait, I thought she was not responsive, what do you mean?") or called him a liar. There were appreciative chuckles at his story, so I know people heard it, but it's as if the necessary thoughts never followed: "How wonderful that she can hear him! What a sweet relationship they have! But wait, he's saying she's responsive?"
The story was never ever mentioned in any of the media coverage that night, much less its implications on how we should be treating Terri.
Mary Schindler talked about how Terri's guardian does not allow her out in her wheelchair (its been broken -- for how long?), and that she has not had a swallowing test since 1992.
Is that true? Don't you wonder? So why didn't anyone out of all the media, all the crowd there ask? I should have.
I'd say the media is missing the bigger stories here.
Bump this back into our consciences as we are days away from what a local physician I spoke to bluntly called "murder".