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OUR AD WAS CENSORED - updated

BlogsforTerri (http://www.blogsforterri.com), currently listing 227 member blogs, engaged in a significant effort earlier this week for the purpose of running an advertisement in the St. Petersburg Times this Sunday. The total cost of this particular advert was close to ten thousand dollars; money that was raised in 36 hours by our bloggers and their readers.

After speaking to the Times' advertising department, we were informed that they would consider running our advertisement only after we agreed to edit its content. We explained to their representative that we possess copies of court documents that back each statement. She was not interested in backing down, however, and insisted that the edited version be run.

Out of respect for the many bloggers and readers, who contributed their own money, out of respect for the truth, and out of respect for Terri Schiavo, it has been decided to cancel the St. Petersburg Times Advertisement. The advertisement MUST and WILL run in its complete and uncensored format.

Ironically, our purpose for paying for the advertisement was to bypass the mainstream media who continues to suggest that this is a "right-to-die" issue. Don't worry, we have a good backup plan and will release its details shortly.

Here is the advert in its entirety. An asterisk (*) and italics indicates what the Times insisted be stricken.

The Ad the St. Petersburg Times Tried to Censor

The story of Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman who suffered brain damage in 1990, has been sensationalized following the efforts of her husband to end her life by starving her to death. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned individuals and government officials have received misinformation about her that have led them to believe she is a “vegetable”, surviving only through artificial life support.

As a coalition of 200 internet bloggers (online writers), we appeal to the citizens of Florida and their elected representatives to consider the following facts about Terri Schiavo.

* Terri Schiavo is not a “vegetable” and is not “brain dead”. She recognizes and responds to others and makes attempts to verbally communicate.

* Terri is not on life support but does receive food and water through a removable tube, which experts testify would not even be necessary if she were given therapy. This assisted feeding is a natural means of preserving life and not a medical act of life support or heroic measures.

* Twelve medical experts and nurses who cared for her confirmed these facts*. Video available through BlogsforTerri.com shows Terri responding and interacting with others. Health care workers have testified under oath that she expresses herself using words, such as “mommy” and “help me”.

* Terri is a person with disabilities who thinks and expresses her moods and desires. She is loved by her family and responds to their visits with smiles and laughter.

* Terri Schiavo may be the victim of ongoing negligence and injustice. She has been denied therapy and rehabilitation by her guardian since 1991*. Florida’s guardianship laws REQUIRE that these necessary services be given to her.

* In 1992, Terri’s husband Michael won $1.7 million in negligence lawsuit under the pretext of funding her rehabilitation and care. He testified, “I believe in the vows that I took with my wife. Through sickness, in health, for richer or poorer. I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I'm going to do that.” *Since that time, Terri has received no rehabilitation, all beneficial forms of stimulation (e.g. music) have been prohibited and basic health care, such as treatment for a life threatening urinary tract infection, has been purposefully withheld at Michael’s direction*.

* Even though Terri’s husband has started a family of his own with another woman and their two children, he refuses to end his marriage to Terri or relinquish her care to her immediate family.

* Terri’s “collapse” has become controversial after a previously hidden bone scan surfaced in 2002 which revealed multiple fractures consistent with a traumatic event. *To date, no investigation has been conducted to determine the source of Terri’s injuries*, but a radiologist gave a sworn statement that the date of those injuries would fall sometime near the time of her mysterious collapse.

* Remarkably, The Florida Courts have sided with Michael, accepting the testimony of two “expert witnesses”, one of whom is a known advocate of “mercy killing”, over that of twelve independent medical professionals (6 of them neurologists). *Judge Greer admitted to not even reviewing their sworn statements*.

* Without intervention by the Florida Governor and Legislature, Judge George Greer is set to give Michael the legal empowerment to withhold food and water from his wife *for the purpose of starving her to death*.

* Terri Schiavo deserves to have medical tests and therapy. She does not deserve to be starved and dehydrated to death.

* Advancements in the understanding of brain activity and misdiagnosis and the recent recovery of a patient after 20 years in a persistent vegetative state, further calls into question any decision that would end the life of Terri Schiavo.

Action Items:

* Contact Florida’s Governor, Jeb Bush at jeb.bush@myflorida.com, and demand that he invoke Florida Statute 415.1051 to provide protective custody until investigations into abuse and neglect can be carried out.

* Contact Florida Senate at www.myflorida.com and ask them to institute an immediate moratorium on withholding assisted nutrition and hydration until Florida can adopt a new standard of testing protocols for brain-injured patients.

* Contact Florida’s House of Representatives at www.myfloridahouse.com and ask them to pass legislation that would forbid the removal of food and water without the informed consent of the patient.

* Visit www.terrisfight.org and see for yourself the woman who has been called a house plant by her husband’s attorney and why

* Get a Protective Medical Decisions Directive from the International Anti-Euthanasia task force at www.internationaltaskforce.com and make your medical treatment desires known to your family and friends. You don’t have to be starved or dehydrated to death simply because your life is effected by disability.

BlogsForTerri is a coalition of over 100 webloggers who regularly write publish articles on the internet supporting Terri Schiavo and the Schindler family.