thanks for your reply
and i respond
yes to almost all of what you have written, and the point of view you express
we diverge on what we would personally want for ourselves if we were in the situation that Terri is in.
and that is a matter of choice
i downloaded the California Advanced Directive a few days ago and posted it here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1367313/posts
i filled it out and called a meeting with my wife and sons. we discussed the document and my wishes. it was a disturbing and emotional experience, but undoubtedly necessary
we each view the information differently, and apply its lessons to ourselves
my wife is a nurse. she and i had this decision before, but for her mother, so we knew a little about it.
Terri is not on a ventilator. She is not suffering from a nasty cancer. In fact, she has, or had until a few days ago, a healthy body and her vital organs were functioning normally. her weight was in the expected range and she had no infections. the tube for nutrition and fluids is not in place because she cannot swallow, it is because it hurts her to do it. there is some damage to her throat. but she does swallow her own saliva and will swallow any liquids you put in her mouth. so the issue here is not heroic life support, it is the very lowest level of sustaining care.
how much brain funtion is there? enough to sustain life, with a little help, that's for sure. Is there cognition? does she try to communicate? no one knows for sure.
is there any possibility that rehabilitative care would help her? again, we don't know. but we do know that she has been denied therapy for at least 8 years.
will there be any scientific medical advances in the near future that would help her? again, we don't know.
have there been people who have been declared hopeless who have miraculously recovered? yes definitely, and their statements have be posted all over this board and others.
is it possible (that's possible, as opposed to probable) that if she were allowed to live for some years into the future that Terri might recover some of her cognition? we just don't know.
if i was her, and even if in my youth, at age 25 i had made a casual remark that i would not want to live "like that" i can tell you that now, at my more advanced age, i would not like to be bound by those words.
i have told my designated guardians to err on the side of the possibility that i might live to the day that i might see them again and tell them how much i love them, again.
You are right about our divergence of opinion, and that's ok. Differences in opinion are not only part of being an adult human, but necessary IMO.
And the difference that you and I have only further strengthens one of my original opinnions: Make your wishes known, and get it in writing.
And as far as Terri's situation is concerned, I can only say this. I don't feel it's any of our business, and I'm certainly not comfortable with running to the legislators with this very personal and traumatic issue.
But that's simply an opinion, for which I'm sure to recieve some more lovely sentiments here.