No, please don't lump me in with the people here. I believe her husband, that she would not want to live like that. I know I wouldn't. I believe he is/was acting in her best interest. I do not believe he is the devil incarnate. I believe he's a man who was put in a terrible situation made worse by 10 years of legal fighting. So, I don't agree with most people here.
I only believe that because there was no written consent you must go on the side of life. Although I personally do not believe that is a life. I hope this is a wake up call for everyone to have their living wills in order.
I also don't believe her parents will be able to take care of her. She will eventually end up on the State's dime. Lying there all alone, with strangers taking care of her. But I know all of you who love Terri so much would never let that happen now, would you?
That's the bottom line issue here. As Hugh Hewitt said ysterday, all the stuff about the husband and his motives is speculation, diversion and irrelevant to the core issue.
Gee, Hildy, you are amazing. You have boundless faith in both MRS and "living wills."
Don't worry..if she can't be at home with her parents for long, there are people that care. There is a whole culture of people that live their lives every day for people just like Terri.
Hildy - why do you think this? I think her family has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to her.... she has a brother (unsure of other sibling?) as well as her parents.
I am speaking from experience as our family cared for my bedridden brother for 18 years - had my parents died first - I would never have dreamed of putting him in the care of strangers..... all because of the example of my parents... There is little glamor in caring for a relative in such a state - but many joys and peace from doing the right thing.....
Thanks to her husband's use of her care money on lawyers rather than treatment and his unwillingness to turn her care over to her parents who have offered to pay, she is CURRENTLY on the "state's dime" as you call it.
For you the above is the enitre Crux of the matter.
Firstly, you don't know that you wouldn't want to live. The will to survive is very strong for most people and I bet that includes you.
Secondly, even if you are were right about yourself, how does that translate to what Terri wants?
Let me tell you something, Hildy. I have recently gotten to know TEN women, who were graduates of the same Archdiocesan school system that Terri was (that includes myself). We have many differences about out faith, yet ONLY one of the TEN didn't see Terri's situation as a travesty.
At 26, if the testimony was accurate, my view of the Karen Ann Quinlan situation, was identical to Terri's. At the time of Terri's collapse, feeding tubes were NOT an issue. I think it is FAR more likely, particualrly given the fact that Terri has surived two previous STARVATION attempts and countless illnesses, that Terri agrees with me on this issue and NOT you. If she wanted to die, she would be DEAD. She OBVIOUSLY doesn't.
Of the many wonderful reasons I hope Terri gets to keep her life, one of them is when Terri learns to speak again, I hope she tells you and people like you, that she wanted to LIVE!