I have received a number of emails from individuals who can truly sympathize with the Schindlers because they have walked a similar path. Their testimony is powerful and reveals that Terri Schiavo's parents are not alone in their desire to care for and treat a loved one who has been classified by the medical establishment as in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) [see Hyscience for the truth about PVS in Terri's case]. In addition, the struggle over Terri Schiavo’s life has increased public awareness and enabled many to deal more effectively with difficult and trying situations.
One such letter came from "Lorraine". She wrote,
I have been reading for over a year about Terri, my sister was in a car accident 3 years now and is in a PVS state, we have had to fight her husband on many issues (except pulling the tube) which we feared would be next, ironically he was killed in a car accident this past year. Now his sister has us in court (as she got the children) due to the fact he changed his will, our hearts break every day for our Joanne, we pray for Terri and her family too. God Bless.I sent a few follow-up questions and she was kind enough to reply.
Without having in-depth information concerning Terri Schiavo's condition, just one glance at the television screen showing her loving facial expression towards her parents says more than a thousand words as to why she should remain on life support systems. May God bless her and her family and may she miraculously recover someday in the future. There is always hope.Note that Terri is actually not on life support but is fed through a feeding tube which experts testify would be unnecessary if she was given therapy. Unlike Terri, Joanne is currently in therapy and is making progress.
We take our sister 5 days a week to hyperic oxygen, we take her to neuro gym, and we take her to a place for acquired brain injury, try speech etc. Unfortunately, we did not get Jo into this program until into the 2nd year of her accident [because] her husband was not on board with helping us, which I’m sure slowed down the process for her well being, but we have been doing this since May of this year and we see a happier Joanne, she plays ball with us, rubs our faces with affection, loves to be stimulated in any way, such as blocks, reaching for things, etc, in other words Jo is showing progress, we will not give up.”Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Joanne and Lorraine.
A somewhat different experience is recounted by Christianity and Middle-Earth who had to make difficult decisions regarding her brother’s life after he suffered acute respiratory failure.
... by the end of that first week in the new hospital a doctor ambushed me and informed me my brother was going to die anyway, so I should let him 'die with dignity'...so they needed my permission to bring him off the paralytic long enough for him to be able to breathe on his own, then they’d pull the life-support. Otherwise, it would be legally murder.After some contemplation, the writer stood firm stating to the doctors, “If you can make him comfortable enough to die, why can't you make him comfortable enough to live?" We can always kill him later; we can't resurrect him." Although the experience was difficult, the story has a good ending,
Two months later he was buying books and shopping at Walmart. He’ll be on a lot of medicine for the rest of his life, but that’s a minor detail. And the reference to the news*? If I hadn't been seething for weeks over the attempted murder of Terry Schiavo, my brother would now be ashes.The publicity surrounding Terri’s case is making a difference in the lives of thousands of people who have had to make decisions and care for loved ones following an accident or an illness. I’m certain that they are watching Judge Greer and Michael Schiavo in horror, recognizing from their personal experience the injustice and treachery that is being handed to Terri.
Cross-posted at BlogsforTerri
Update: WriteWingBlogs has listed several others who have come forward to share their personal experiences including Richard from BlogsforTerri.
Tim ~
An excellent post that really makes the situation with Terri more personal and more horrific.
My name is Barbara ******* and I am a retired LPN. I worked in a nursing home in Silver Creek NY and I had a patient who is almost identical to Terri name, looks, and condition. Her name was Jeri, and she was in what all determined to be a vegatative state. However, when I would work with this lady and, looked into her eyes I could see someone in there. She could not communicate but she WAS there. Locked inside. I worked with her and started feeding her BY MOUTH and she did well! Every one kept telling me that she could not eat, but she did eat. It took a lot of activity and constant talking to hold her attention so she could concentrate on chewing and swallowing but, she was doing it. I could make her laugh. They would not give her any speech therapy or even try to work with her. But, I did and she responded. I also worked with another lady who was in an encephalitis coma, I worked with her and she started to eat, and eventually came around, had her tube removed and ate by mouth.
I keep looking at Teri on TV and just keep feeling if I could only get to her and be allowed to work with her she would eat. BY MOUTH and would not need the tube. It is not just a passing feeling, since I first saw her and how she reacted in the video clips I Know she could do this but, since she has not been allowed to recieve this kind of care ( how and why I cannot understand) one will never know if she could do it. Would that not be sad to think that she was starved to death because no one was allowed to feed her, not even try?
I have watched people die from starvation and it is NOT an easy or pretty or dignified way to die. I have seen a lady who weighed 268 pounds die from starvation and it is a Longggg slow, painful death. How any court in the land could allow this tube to be removed without even trying therapy, with this lady is unconsicenable (sic) to allow this ?man? (her husband) who has NO interest or love for this lady to pull the plug is grossly wrong. Her family Mom Dad and Brother want her to live and to take her home. These are the people who should have the final say.
I seriously would love the opportunity to try to get this lady to eat.
Barbara P******
Hopefully soon the abuse of the legal system by Terri's parents will cease, and the law will finally be upheld and her pain put to rest. What her parents are doing is understandable, but simply wrong. They have no case, they've never had a case, and ruling after ruling makes that clear. But of course the primary villain here is Jeb Bush, who should know better and simply doesn't care. He should come under intense ethical scrutiny for attempting to evade state and federal law.
I am one of those parents with a multiply handicapped child. Alex is our youngest son and he was cute enough to be put in a movie as an infant and in a catalog for handicapped aids (flexistander) as a child. They told us he would be blind and never see they told us he would never talk and we took him home by faith anyway. I have a sort of pictorial history of his growing up on my journal/blog and once you see him can you tell me his was not a life worth living? He is nineteen now and can see and talk. (too much sometimes) He laughs, loves and is always ready for our next adventure. Not bad for a kid with severe brain damage who was never given a chance except by his parents and siblings who welcomed him. Sure he has problems but we have been also blessed by what we have learned. My wife works with Special Ed Children and has her Masters in Special Education now. My daughter is working toward a teaching degree and only has one year left to go. My oldest son works as an Instructional Aide with Handicapped children. I know from personal experience that Terri can be helped and loved by her family if only those who want her would be allowed to.
My sister-in-law's grandson, a 15 yr. old, was in a coma from a car accident for three weeks. Water from Lourdes was sprinkled on him by his parish priest, he flinched at this, the first motion from him. He then came out of his coma. What if they would have removed his sustenance early on?