Terri Schiavo is Conscious, Struggles to Talk and has Spoken Words

Previously Hyscience published the courtroom testimony of Cindy Shook, who was the first to have an affair with Michael Schiavo after Terri's collapse. This prior article examined Shook's experience with Michael which supported various allegations against him.

However, Shook also did a radio interview that suggests Michael believes Terri is aware and responsive.

Cindy: …... he would go through the nursing home and he said immediately, umm, as soon as he got near the door her head was already looking at the door because she would recognize his voice...

CK: Right.

Cindy: …and she would start crying when he got ready to leave.

This testimony is consistent with that of healthcare professionals who worked for years with Terri and have repeatedly contradicted the assertion put forward by Michael and his lawyers that Terri is in an unrecoverable state.

For example, Heidi Law, a certified nursing assistant who cared for Terri, testified in an Affadavit that Terri closed her eyes during prayer and laughed at jokes. [more here]

Carla Sauer, R.N., one of Terri’s former nurses testifed,

Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn’t say the "n" sound very well.

In a recent statement, Father Frank Pavone wrote that he was able "to listen to her struggle to speak, to watch her focus her eyes and smile and attempt to kiss her parents."

Terri Schiavo is not a 'vegetable' and she did not "die" 15 years ago as some have suggested. Her only life support is a simple feeding tube and therapists have said under oath that, with treatment, it is likely that she will be able to eat and swallow without it. Terri can breathe, her heart works, everything does. She is disabled, having suffered brain damage, but is of no less value than any other person. To remove the feeding tube would be to subject her to a torturous death via starvation.

In addition, there is ample video tape evidence available that clearly shows Terri is not brain dead or in a persistent vegetative state.

Beth at MyVastRightWingConspiracy draws attention to the following myth

MYTH: Terri is PVS (Persistent vegetative state)

FACT: The definition of PVS in Florida Statue 765.101: Persistent vegetative state means a permanent and irreversible condition of unconsciousness in which there is:

(a) The absence of voluntary action or cognitive behavior of ANY kind.

(b) An inability to communicate or interact purposefully with the environment.

Terri’s behavior does not meet the medical or statutory definition of persistent vegetative state. Terri responds to stimuli, tries to communicate verbally, follows limited commands, laughs or cries in interaction with loved ones, physically distances herself from irritating or painful stimulation and watches loved ones as they move around her. None of these behaviors are simple reflexes and are, instead, voluntary and cognitive. Though Terri has limitations, she does interact purposefully with her environment.

Finally, see the Wittenburg Gate, in the Real Terri Schiavo, for a related, substantial and clear case for the "Real Terri".

What You Can Do

Today--contact the governor and the leaders of the legislature and politely insist that they write a new law to save Terri’s life. We need this to happen today, and we ask you to recruit your friends to do the same. And remember, phone calls are better than emails.

Jeb Bush, Governor
(850) 488-4441
jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Tom Lee, Senate President
(850) 487-5072
lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov

Allan G. Bense, Speaker
(850) 488-1450
speaker@myfloridahouse.gov