Michael Schiavo's side of the story [sicko' barf-ola ALERT]

MSNBC ^ | 3/27/06 | Matt Lauer

[XR7]

CLEARWATER, FLA. - Michael Schiavo...has decided to tell his side of the story...

Schiavo invited us to his home in Clearwater, Florida to talk...It’s all in his new book “Terri the Truth.”

Matt Lauer: I guess you could’ve written a book to honor Terri. After reading it, it’s not really the book you wrote. This is a book that in some ways settles some scores, doesn’t it?

Michael Schiavo: Oh yes, it does.

Lauer: You did think about writing that honoring Terri book?

Michael Schiavo: Oh yes, many times. This book does honor Terri in a way. It sets her free. It tells the truth...

Lauer: You were her first date.

Schiavo: Uh-huh.

Lauer: You were her first kiss.

Schiavo: Uh-huh.....

But the medical examiner was skeptical...and could not conclusively determine just what caused her collapse 16 years ago.

Lauer (at Terri Schiavo’s grave site): How often do you come to her grave?

Schiavo: I try to get out here at least two or three times a month. I drive by a lot though.

On this day, approaching the one year anniversary of Terri's death, someone had left a crucifix by her grave, a grave marked with three dates: her birth date, the date of her collapse, and her death, with a final note from Michael: "I kept my promise."

Lauer: Why was it so important to put that in there?

Schiavo: It was from me to her — it had nothing to do with anybody else. It was very important for me.

Lauer: Do you ever come here Michael and wonder how she feels about this promise, so many years afterwards? Do you think it was it as important to her as it was to you?

Schiavo: Definitely, definitely. She's up there praising me right now… and saying thank you.

[freedumb2003]

Supercat, she had been a vegatative state for several years, not a few weeks. I guess we can start playing word games on coma and vegatative state, but overall she was brain damaged, like Bill Mahr. And to argue that the criminal activity took place after the trial is flawed at best.

I always liked Bill Handel's take. When everyone left the room, she started talking and dancing like the WB frog. When they all rushed back in, she just stared at the ceiling.

When the left, THERE SHE WENT!! Dancing, talking lucidly, asking for Starbucks Coffee.

Etc.

[Miss Behave]

Sick.

[freedumb2003]

Sick.

Deluded.

(see, I can do one word responses, too)

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I'm not sure I truly support Michael, but the autopsy and supporting reports were proof that Terri was in a PVS, that she was blind, and that she was unable to comprehend her surroundings and interact with her family, as they claimed.

I sometimes wondered why Michael didn't just turn her care over to her distraught parents and siblings, but if he made a promise to Terri he did the right thing to keep that promise.

I am also uneasy about Terri's family using her name and likeness for a cause that is entirely of their own making.

Flame-proof pajamas have been donned.

[Windsong]

I agree. But you can't say that here.

Sure he can, as well as you, or I, or anyone else. Plenty of people did in all of those flame-filled threads. Not everyone here lets their emotions do the talking. I know I wouldnt have wanted to be strapped to a torture rack for...15 YEARS!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Agreed, and thank you for pointing out the random motions made by patients.

As to the point of brain size at autopsy -- many are attributing the small size of the brain to dehydration. From prior scans that I have seen on the web, it appeared that Terri's brain had loss mass (sorry if that is not the proper term) long prior to the autopsy. What is your opinion on this point?

[supercat]

OK, I have heard this urban myth too many times. Please post the relevant EXACT statute that says this.

Title XLIII Chapter 744 section 474, among others.

"A guardian may be removed for any of the following reasons, and the removal shall be in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law: (11) Development of a conflict of interest between the ward and the guardian".

Do you deny that a married man who has betrothed himself to another woman would have an interest in seeking his wife's death, regardless of what his wife would want?

It's also worth noting that 744.446(1) states "The fiduciary relationship which exists between the guardian and the ward may not be used for the private gain of the guardian other than the remuneration for fees and expenses provided by law." Where did Michael get the money for his house and car? And when he was first trying to kill Terri--before her trust fund was drained, and thus when he would have stood to inherit hundreds of thousands of dollars--would not such funds have constituted "private gain"?

Yes, well, proper notice is such a silly legal nicety. I think I will sue you, ask the newspaper to mention it, then not get around to actually serving you. When you don't show, I'll ask the judge to hold you in contempt for not being there when I wanted you to be.

Do you think Greer's failure to provide written notice was accidental?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I am so sorry for your loss and thank you for the common sense reflected in your post.

[Shelayne]

Her parents had their own agenda in releasing those snippets of video - and it's obvious you were one of those duped by them.

Their agenda was that they didn't want their daughter to be starved and dehydrated to death. I guess I can have sympathy for their position. I wouldn't want my child in that situation, either. They wanted to take care of her. She was their daughter. They had known and loved her ALL HER LIFE.

I take umbrage at being told I was duped. I want to know STILL how she could respond to "open your eyes" and not only turn her head toward the doctor, but lean in to him, face up, open her eyes as wide as possible, and then raise her eyebrows as she is almost BUGGING her eyes out. You could see her trying so hard as well. I don't give a flying fig what that autopsy report said--I saw her respond. I heard her laugh and I heard her try to vocalize. I am not someone easily fooled, either.

You know they said that Hailee Poutre was brain dead, too. That old familiar "persistent vegetative state" that they like to label people. They even got permission from the court to remove her from life-sustaining measures as her parents were to blame for her condition.

But little Hailee didn't want to die. She woke up and shocked everyone. That brain dead brain, well, it wasn't so dead after all.

I respect your position and my heart aches for what you have had to endure with your wife and losing her. But your wife obviously made her wishes known. Terri did not. Michael suddenly recalling a conversation that they had in passing, only AFTER receiving a jury award, doesn't pass muster. Sorry, that is how I feel.

I have a friend that is dying now, and she has me listed as one of the people authorized to make those end of life decisions for her. What an unbelievable responsibility. I made certain that she clearly spelled out every single thing, because I am not someone who could easily pull the plug. Thankfully, her brother is first in line to make those pronouncements, and I am certain he will follow her wishes.

I appreciate the thought you put into your response, and except for the part where you called me a "dupe" ;^) I appreciate your civil tone. This difference of opinion can get ugly fast, and the issue is an emotional one--for both sides. I don't think we will ever agree on this issue in regard to Terri. I think that we can agree, as Christians, that everyone involved needs our prayers.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"And Terri's *wishes* to be dehydrated to death were nothing more than H E A R S A Y, suddenly *remembered* and first spoken of by *hubby* S E V E N years later."

(According to him) Michael spent quite some time having Terri treated and hoping for recovery. When it became evident that Terri would not ever recover Michael set out to keep the promise he made to Terri.

This guy could not possibly do anything that is not questioned by Terri supporters. These issues were heard by the Courts, and a preponderance of the evidence prompted the judges to find in favor of Michael's contention that Terri would not have wanted to live like she was.

[Shelayne]

I am also disgusted about Michael's new lobbyist project called TerriPAC.

That's just icky.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Yes, it is very icky.

[BagelFace]

Umbrage? Anyway, if you say "open your eyes" all day while filming a senseless subject, eventually you'll get a shot of eyes opening - seemingly to that command. Oldest trick in the book, at least since movies were invented. Even older than Hitler dancing a silly jig in Compiegne! Although he can speak for himself, I will assert that he's not saying they filmed all day, or with the conscious intention of deceiving anyone, but it really wouldn't take much filming to get the footage in question. Sorry to say it (again), but you were duped.

[retMD]

As to the point of brain size at autopsy -- many are attributing the small size of the brain to dehydration. From prior scans that I have seen on the web, it appeared that Terri's brain had loss mass (sorry if that is not the proper term) long prior to the autopsy. What is your opinion on this point?

You're right, her brain had a great deal of obvious atrophy on the scans. This isn't my field, but colleagues who read scans regularly told me those were among the worst they'd seen. The details of the autopsy make it clear that groups of cells were dead and disintegrated, sometimes replaced by other tissue, as opposed to simply dehydrated.

[Shelayne]

Umbrage?

a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult--took umbrage at the speaker's remarks--synonym see OFFENSE

Cut me a little slack, I have been writing all day. So I get a little flowery sometimes. It's either that, or I keep writing in acronyms. LOL

Anyway, if you say "open your eyes" all day while filming a senseless subject, eventually you'll get a shot of eyes opening - seemingly to that command.

**sigh**

She doesn't just open her eyes. If you saw the video, you would see what I am trying to relay. Oh well.

[BagelFace]

open her eyes, reflex a grimace, etc., the same principle applies. hopefully perhaps you'll realize from reading the other posts that she couldn't have commuincated meaningfully. please, follow my train of thought, but don't disembark at umbrage (although umbrage is lovely this time of year).

[XR7]

No, she wasn't. If she was, how could she laugh at her father joking around with her? I saw the video, and she LAUGHED when he was teasing her. If you want, I can send you the link.

Please post it here.
Maybe it will help stop all this bickering.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Anyone truly in a vegetative state without hope of recovery wouldn't care if he were in such a condition. I see no reason to subject anyone to a slow, agonizing death by dehydration--what if she weren't in a vegetative state? Also, given that death by dehydration in such a case is cruel and unusual punishment for no crime at all, a court and spouse conspiring to kill such a person should be merciful and make it quick with a bullet to the brain.

[napscoordinator]

Not to sound cold hearted, but I believe that the autopsy proved he was right that she was in a vegatative state with no hope of recovery. I know I would not want to be in her condition and would trust my wife to not let me sufer.


They said the brain was dead and she was blind. I don't want that life. I know this is a hot button issue for people, but man I hope somebody just blows my head off rather than live like some circus event that went on for months. YUK!!! This post will never be able to convince me to live that way. If you guys want to live like that be my guest.

[napscoordinator]

2nd edition? twenty years ago in Catholic school we used the fifth edition at least. Maybe this is an old copy.