Posted on 03/08/2007 3:11:27 AM PST by markomalley
Bobby Schindler, brother of late Terri Schiavo, spoke to members of the Cornell community last night to promote awareness of issues facing disabled individuals.
After collapsing in her home on Feb. 25, 1990, Terri Schiavo suffered several minutes without oxygen to her brain, resulting in severe brain damage. Although she needed immediate care afterwards, a few weeks later, she only required a feeding tube to regulate her nutrition.
During 1991 and 1992, Schiavo showed signs of improvement due to rehabilitation programs and therapy, according to Schindler.
In 1993, Terri was awarded a medical trust fund of $1.5 million for life-long rehabilitation, of which her husband Michael was made guardian.
According to Schindler, after Michael deposited this money, Terri stopped receiving therapy.
Tensions arose in 1993 between Michael and Terri’s father Robert Schindler.
In 1998, Michael wrote the Schindler family a letter, explaining that he was petitioning the courts to remove his wife’s feeding tube.
Terri’s family opposed removal of the feeding tube. Michael, backed by his brother and sister-in-law, said Terri had made statements before she suffered brain damage that she would not want to live in such a condition.
“Our family was very naïve at what we were up against,” Schindler said. “The attitudes of our country [toward this issue] have been changed because of the influence of the media, judges, doctors and bioethics.”
Schindler said he was frustrated that the media portrayed his sister as bedridden and unable to be moved. In fact, Schindler said, had Terri been alive today, he could have brought her with him; she would have merely needed a wheelchair to be transported. Schindler emphasized that Schiavo was not connected to breathing stabilizers of any sort.
“My sister was not dying. She was physically as healthy as you and me,” Schindler said.
Although she could not respond rapidly, she did show signs of coherence, according to Schindler. He recounted a moment when he told his sister that he had the chance to shake hands with Bruce Springstein. Terri had purchased her brother his first C.D. by the artist. When he told her, she smiled.
Such responses were ignored by the court systems, according to Schindler. He said he believed then that videos demonstrating her ability to react to speech would convince the courts that she was not in a persistent vegetative state — one in which a person cannot respond to any external stimuli — but a judge said this did not prove his case.
On March 31, 2005, 14 days after the removal of her feeding tube, Terri died from dehydration.
“The courts have taken [on] a power of God,” Schindler said. Schindler said doctors took on a similar role and are still quick to overlook the benefits of long-term rehabilitation.
“If society knows the truth, then we can properly address the issue and give [the disabled] the right to live, a basic human right,” said Elisabeth Wilbert ’07, vice president of Cornell Coalition for Life.
CCFL invited Schindler to speak to demonstrate that the club supports pro-life organizations.
“It was a good opportunity for Cornell to get a personal view of something with such a national interest,” said Tristen Cramer ’09, president of CCFL. Schindler said his family would have preferred not to generate national interest; family members received a large number of e-mails that condemned the family for keeping Terri alive.
“I learned a lot more true information compared to what the media portrayed,” said Kourtney Reynolds ’09.
Schindler said he hopes to devalue false information given to the public by the media.
He also said that euthanasia occurred before his family’s struggle and continues to occur today.
“Are we going to care for [the disabled] or find ways to justify killing them?” Schindler asked.
The first-hand witnesses have a very different story from the way you put things. Let's let them tell it as it was.
Lies on your part will not change what I said. I did not say anyone had control over the media, just that the pro-Terri folks were the ones who got the media there and it was their efforts that resulted in most of the media coverage. So quit being childish, and at least respond to the actual post, not something created in your head.
By hostile, I presume you mean attempting to get the other side? By hostile, I presume you mean their reporting on the crowd that had desecrated the US Flags, defined crucifixes and held them up for the cameras? How about sending small children to get arrested so that the cameras could see them in handcuffs? Or what about the death threats rampant against Michael Schiavo and his then girlfriend? What about the rumors of a price put on Greer and Schiavo?
Were all of those things made up by the media? How about the inflamatory news conferences from Randall Terry?
The Schiavo supporters used the media, and now complain about it. Pure sophistry.
I just reported you for abuse.
And just exactly how did I abuse you or anyone else, or the rules of the forum? Is hearing the truth now an abuse? How about instead, tell my coherently why I am wrong in my facts?
The reports of abuse around here are really something to see, aren't they, MACVSOG68? Now it's considered abuse if one reports on things that happened that aren't terribly favorable to social conservatives. Sounds like Pravda, to me.
Yeah, that one especially took me by surprise. Most of them are coming from people who can't argue the point, but don't want to hear or see it. Does hint a bit of the growing intolerance and desperation of certain groups here.
Does anyone know what the Schindlers are doing to change the laws in Florida regarding who makes decisions regarding another person's care? Doesn't seem that continuing to argue about how aware Terri was or was not and whether or not Schiavo was a good guy is getting anyone anywhere.
Are you calling T'wit a liar? Well, I was there! I was there every day during that time and we vigilers fought constantly for any attention at all from the media. Meanwhile, they focused their cameras and mikes on the few supporters of Michael, some of whom confessed to me were PAID to disrupt.
Matter of fact those very few disruptors are very easy to remember because they behaved in a way similar to you, i.e. snotty, obnoxious, and liberal.
I hope you are decent enough to apologize to T'wit for that accusation and prove wrong my impression.
8mm
I'm calling anybody a liar who states I said anyone controlled the media. There's a big difference between using and controlling.
I was there every day during that time and we vigilers fought constantly for any attention at all from the media.
That was exactly my point! Go back and read my posts before jumping to any conclusions about what I said.
Meanwhile, they focused their cameras and mikes on the few supporters of Michael, some of whom confessed to me were PAID to disrupt.
I watched the news coverage daily. You folks brought them in with your protests, not the Schiavos. That they also went to Schiavo and his attorney for balance does not imply they didn't spend a lot of time with your side. I saw all of the flags and crucifixes your side desecrated. I saw the young children being sent out to get arrested so the news could see them in handcuffs. I listened to Randall Terry and quite a few others from your side. You all got the publicity you fought for, but didn't like what America thought about it. Don't blame the media when you all brought them in.
Matter of fact those very few disruptors are very easy to remember because they behaved in a way similar to you, i.e. snotty, obnoxious, and liberal.
I think snotty and obnoxious belongs in the camp of people who fear the truth and try and get anyone banned who is not in complete sympathy with their crusade. As for liberal, I don't know where you get that from. I'm about as conservative as they come, and as a conservative, I reject extremism in all its ugly forms.
You ever notice how when someone can't break down the message, they try insulting the messenger? It's usually the sure sign of a vacuous argument.
I hope you are decent enough to apologize to T'wit for that accusation and prove wrong my impression. 8mm
I will apologize to all here for anything I said that was not truthful. I apologize to no one who tries to change either the context or facts of what I said.
I think you are missing the point. The media did slant the reporting, long before Terri died.
The record about Terri, and what was done to her, needs to be set straight.
The stuff you are talking is more peripheral.
Our friend is a macho man for mainstream mediocrity. Principles are, I believe, unimportant to him. Next he will insult your intelligence. He looks in the mirror to find his most rapt audience.
Is this a problem?
This tells me a whole lot. In case you haven't noticed, a lot of us conservatives do not share your wide eyed acceptance of the media.
Also, "you folks" implies we are of a different philosophy. I am a Reaganite who is pro-life. How about you?
I think snotty and obnoxious belongs in the camp of people who fear the truth and try and get anyone banned who is not in complete sympathy with their crusade. As for liberal, I don't know where you get that from. I'm about as conservative as they come, and as a conservative, I reject extremism in all its ugly forms.
You can say, scream, and shout that you are conservative, but your words speak otherwise.
A perfect example of liberal-think is your projection that we fear the truth and are extremists. Thousands and thousands of posts on Terri's Legacy in the past two years show to any who reasons calmly that we are the ones holding the evidence, the facts, the truths, much of it eyewitness, and the left, the trolls, the communists, and even the terrorists are the ones showing the traits you propose. Haters call people they hate haters. A good example of that approach, an angered accusing approach is make famous by the blogger for Edwards.
You sound just like the Mikey supporters the media fawned over at Pinellas Park, attacking decent conservatives from all across the spectrum, wreaking wrath at their faith, even.
One of the things you may wish to do is take a peek at the top of your screen. It says FreeRepublic. Maybe you didn't realize you were on a FreeRepublic thread.
You're joking, right?
Of course not. We know the media never makes anything up.
::sarc tag in case it's needed::
Why? Because they reported the other side of the issue? They continually reported on the protest group. They reported on the Congress meeting to legislate a judicial mandate. They reported on the President's concerns. They reported on the concerns of Jeb Bush and his efforts to prevent Terri's death. I think I heard every doctor and nurse in Florida give their opinions.
The record about Terri, and what was done to her, needs to be set straight.
Then set it straight, but don't complain about the media that you brought in because they didn't report everything exactly as you wanted them to.
The reporting is not a problem with me. The Congressional action absolutely was, but that is not what we are discussing here on this thread. I didn't have a problem with the media coverage, and my opinion is that the Terri Schiavo protesters got most of the coverage, at least from what I saw.
You stated in your previous post that you did everything possible to get media coverage, and when I agree with you and say that you all brought them in, not the Schiavos, you say I have a wide eyed acceptance of the media?
Also, "you folks" implies we are of a different philosophy. I am a Reaganite who is pro-life. How about you?
As I said earlier, I'm a conservative, but I don't care what you want to call yourself politically, because it irrelevant to the discussion. I said you folks because you said you were there! The "you folks" I speak of are the Terri Schiavo activists. I didn't happen to be one. But if you wish some other designation, please let me know.
A perfect example of liberal-think is your projection that we fear the truth and are extremists. Thousands and thousands of posts on Terri's Legacy in the past two years show to any who reasons calmly that we are the ones holding the evidence, the facts, the truths, much of it eyewitness, and the left, the trolls, the communists, and even the terrorists are the ones showing the traits you propose.
When I point out extremists, they come guns ablazing! But they are very noticeable, because instead of any kind of reasoned or intelligent discourse, the first thing they do to those who disagree is fire off a bunch of inane insults such as "leftist", "troll", "Communist", "terrorist" and then link the insults to the poster, as you just did. You can claim to be a lot of things, but please leave the descriptor "conservative" out of that.
You sound just like the Mikey supporters the media fawned over at Pinellas Park, attacking decent conservatives from all across the spectrum, wreaking wrath at their faith, even.
Goodness, all of that because I said you had gotten a large amount of media coverage! Oh yes, and of course, such insults are not those of extremists.....
One of the things you may wish to do is take a peek at the top of your screen. It says FreeRepublic. Maybe you didn't realize you were on a FreeRepublic thread.
Oh, I didn't realize it was supposed to mean that I need to fall into line with whatever you tell me to think? What part of "Free" don't you understand?
Why do you play with these whackydoodles?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.