Michael Schiavo: 'Come Down President Bush' (Terri's Husband is Getting Frustrated)

Tampa Bay Online ^ | 3.20.05 | William Levesque

[gopwinsin04]

Angered by the lastest political developments in Washington, Michael Schiavo said Saturday that it isn't just the governor who should visit his wife to learn about the case.

'Come down, President Bush,' Schiavo said in a telephone interview. 'Come talk to me. Meet my wife. Talk to my wife and see if you get an answer. Ask her to lift her arm to shake your hand. She wont do it.'

She won't, Shiavo said, because she can't.

He made a similar offer last week to Florida Governor Jeb Bush saying lawmakers interfering in his wife's life know nothing about the case.

So far, Governor Bush has not responded to the offer. President George W, Bush has said he will sign any federal legislation that will keep Terri Schiavo alive.

Michael Schiavo also said that US Congressional House Majority Leader Tom Delay is a 'little slithering snake' pandering for votes.

'To make comments that Terri would want to live, how do they know?' Schiavo said of the members of Congress who want to keep Terri alive.

'Terri died 15 years ago,' referring to the collapse and cardiac arrest that doctors say virtually destroyed her brain. It's time for her to be with the lord like she wanted to be.'

[robertpaulsen]

Two others, one of them her best friend, testified under oath that Terri told them the same thing.

But screw that. I don't care if he is some SPOS -- he's her husband and that legally carries weight when it comes to conversations he's had with his wife.

If my wife tells me that she would never want to live like that, I would like to think that I, as her spouse, could carry out her wish. Not some nationwide "we know what's best for your wife" group of do-gooders. The thought should scare everyone, like Terri, without a living will.

You had better ask yourself one question. What if Michael were a nice guy? A husband true to his wife, constantly at her bedside, who comes on TV crying to let his wife have her wish ... hell, you'd be marching on Washington, DC to "Save Michael".

That's what this is about. And that is what's scary.

[Inkie]

And the miracle might not happen, too. That is irrelevant. She has a right to live just as she is, even if she will never get any better. Otherwise, we play into people's so-called standards of deciding who lives and dies and playing God. Let's not go there, even in well-meant sentiments.

[kalee]

He's a nurse.

[spokeshave]

"But I have never seen a photo of Michael Schiavo. I'm curious because I want to look at him very, very close to see if I can determine what his character (or his lack thereof) is."

Michael looks like a thick set version of Scott Peterson.

[Miss Behave]

"I wonder how well Terri could greet the President if the HINO hadn't blown half a million of Terri's healthcare trust on lawyers who were fighting to KILL HER."

I think EVERY single person on this board knows the answer to that, Ski. It's just that some choose to not allow such a HUGE truth to get in the way of their black and white.

[kalee]

I think it certainly is his attorney Felos' agenda.

[robertpaulsen]

"a woman who had been in a coma for almost 20 years"

The operative word is "coma". Not a persistent vegetative state. Two totally different things.

[sinkspur]

Did you hear George Will say that, in common law, the husband and wife are considered "one"? This congressional action splits that bond, and will set the precedent that other family members will be able go to federal court to get a "review" of something like a restraining order being placed by one spouse against another.

This is unconstitutional, and DeLay and everybody up there knows it.

[FairOpinion]

Did you notice how much Scott Peterson and Mike Schiavo look alike?

Credit to PhilDragoo for its creation.

[avile]

When she went into the hospital in the first place, she must have filled a resuscitate or DNR form. Does anyone know the record?

[amystitz]

How does the existence of is "common law" wife play into that? You cannot be One with two different women. It seems that MS himself has already violated the sanctity of that bond.

[Miss Behave]

I was just thinking the same thing. Cut from the same cloth.

[sweetliberty]

"If I was her, I'd be scared. Heck, she could be Michael's next victim!"

Not likely. All the money, the insurance (she has an insurance business), the house and I believe even the cars, are in her name to make it look like Michael doesn't have anything. And since he isn't married to her, he can get Medicaid for Terri so nothing has to come out his pocket for Terri's "care." He needs her. If he offed her, he wouldn't get anything. If she's smart, she'll keep it that way. Of course, how smart could she be to get hooked up with a scumbag like him.

[sinkspur]

How does the existence of is "common law" wife play into that?

Until you can understand what I wrote in #128, I'm afraid we cannot have a conversation.

Where did I say anything about a common law wife?

[Just Kimberly]

I believe the Democratic/Judicial position is much broader based than this. This is what I have come up with: Either the Judge is being paid off (possible - not probable) OR the bigger issue - if this succeeds, because it is a 'right to life' issue, the Democrats see the Abortion issue being close to this issue and it may be threatened. It is almost what a Hollywood script would be made of - but it makes sense.

If a law is in effect which gives people without a voice a voice - then all of the babies being aborted each day will potentially have a voice.This will pose a problem in the Democrats platform - as a precedent will have been set.

The issue with Terri is not about Terri - as far as the Judicial system is concerned, Honestly - I think they could care less.

BUT - if the Democratic Agenda of pro-choice will ever have the potential to be effected by this new Law - then there is a problem. I do believe that is where this could lead - and they are thinking that far ahead. Pretty smart for stupid Liberal Democrats. (sorry, couldn't resist.) JK

[Jrabbit]

She wasn't able to do that. Perhaps if her loving spouse had attempted CPR or called 911 right away, she may have been able to.

[Howlin]

This congressional action splits that bond, and will set the precedent that other family members will be able go to federal court to get a "review" of something like a restraining order being placed by one spouse against another.

Exactly.

But never mind; I'm sure all these people will enjoy the government in their homes!

[bitt]

If you have read just this one affidavit, and still believe that we should take this man's word for her stating that she would not want to remain in a vegetative state (which she doesn't look like she is in, IMO), then we remain in disagreement.

"AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF FLORIDA )

COUNTY OF PINELLAS )


BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:

1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.

2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.

3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.

4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction “Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated.” This struck me as extremely odd.

5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo’s intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as “This is my order and you’re going to follow it.” He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.

6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri’s hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.

7. Terri’s medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as “mommy,” and “help me.” “Help me” was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word “pain” when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like “pay.” She didn’t say the “n” sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying “pay” and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.

8. When I came into her room and said “Hi, Terri”, she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying “Haaaiiiii” sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a “hi”, which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri’s, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri’s rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri’s responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.

9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri’s death. Michael would say “When is she going to die?,” “Has she died yet?” and “When is that bitch gonna die?” These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include “Can’t you do anything to accelerate her death - won’t she ever die?” When she wouldn’t die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as “Make sure the parents aren’t contacted.” I recorded Michael’s statements word for word in Terri’s chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn’t to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.

10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out “I’m going to be rich!,” and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.

11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I’d check her blood sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri’s mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri’s blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.

12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I’ve said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as “Andy” Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as “They are old - let them die.” I couldn’t believe her attitude or the fact that it didn’t seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my “rocking the boat.”

13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.

14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael’s constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.

15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn’t stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.
CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver’s license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath

[sweetliberty]

"When she went into the hospital in the first place, she must have filled a resuscitate or DNR form."

She was 26. I don't think it came up when she initially went in the hospital. Michael, however, has had a DNR order in place ever since he collected the money for her "rehabilitation."

[MizSterious]

I guess, for me, it comes down to this: I don't think it should be legally possible for someone to make this kind of decision without having something in writing--especially when that person has something to gain from that spouse's demise.

And even then, starvation should be outlawed as a means to that end. Fer cryin' out loud, they don't allow someone to put panties on the heads of terrorists--yet they can cause this long, painful death for this woman? Something is very wrong with this picture.