Terri Schiavo - so sad :(

[Logan]

I had an indepth conversaton with a good friend today about this whole situation. And I think the bottom line for both of us in this particular case was that it wasn't a case of deciding whether to choose to use a feeding tube, but whether to remove it.........a huge difference in my opinion. Even on the CBS News tonight (first time I have ever watched that particular news report), they said that she was a perfectly normal, and healthy, by most standards and didn't require a lot of medical attention over the years. The particular report was about the expenses associated with her care.

Many people that we all know have decided to refuse any heroic effort when it came to severely injured or sick family members. I've had that situation in my own family. But to allow the feeding tube, then ask for it to be removed seems harsh and unnatural. That's what I struggle with. I do hate the publicity that has come along with this whole thing..........it certainly isn't good for Terri Shiavo, and isn't good for her parents/family or Michael Shiavo either. I pray for all of them.

Logan

[joycenalex]

logan, she doesn't have bed sores. that is a testimony to the excellent, high quality and high maintence care that she's gotten over the years. imagine, no self directed movements and no bed sores. having worked in health care for many years, that is very surprising

[Pam]

I heard on CNN last night that Michael Schiavo is calling for an autopsy, then heard later on another report that an autopsy is required in the state of Florida when cremation is going to occur. So it seems that Michael has no choice in the situation. I will be glad when this is all over. At least it has focused a lot of attention on having an Advanced Directive.

[caseysmom]

I couldn't find anywhere a rule that an autopsy is required in florida when a cremation is going to be done??

[Pam]

Originally posted by caseysmom
I couldn't find anywhere a rule that an autopsy is required in florida when a cremation is going to be done??

Larry King mentioned that there would be an autopsy. Later in the evening I was watching Fox (maybe Greta VanSustern's show? where they mentioned that autopsies are required in Florida when cremation will be performed. I believe it was a reporter from Court TV who said that. I am sure as Terri's life draws to a close it will come up again. Stay tuned.

[caseysmom]

I have just never seen so much misinformation in my life, it was said that a brain scan was never done, that has been shown to be false. I think the media is printing pretty much whatever they hear with no research whatsoever.

[catland]

I don't have a problem with the concept of removing a feeding tube vs. never using one.

Consider the timeline.

She had the heart attack.
They didn't know the extent of the damage at that time.

Do they say "well, just in case she's brain-dead, lets not bother with a feeding tube?" - of course not.

But once test after test has conclusively proved that no one is home and that she is indeed brain-dead - then it seems more cruel to keep the corpse alive because of a false sense of hope.

If her arm was missing we could all say "oh look, her arm is missing" - but because you see her hair and eyes and face, you have the mistaken belief that some part of her brain still exists when it doesn't.

Not that long ago there was a story of a chicken with its head cut off. A person kept the chicken "alive" for quite a while by force feeding it down the hole in its neck. It's heart kept on beating and it kept on breathing - yet was it really "alive"?

(I know, I know, people aren't chickens - but which story is more macabre?)

[Pam]

Caseysmom, Fox News just now stated again that Florida law requires an autopsy for a cremation. (Sheppard Smith reporting)

Catland, I have seen nothing that indicates she is brain dead.

[caseysmom]

According to this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1004593/posts

it sounds like its up to the medical examiner's discretion.

[Pam]

Good work Caseysmom. I can only echo this from the site you found.

Terri is not in a coma.
She is not on life support.
She laughs, cries, vocalizes.
Her face brightens for her mother.
She swallows.

”So why don't they let her mother feed her?”

The husband/guardian doesn't allow.
His lawyers don't allow.
The judge & courts do not allow.

[caseysmom]

Its scary and frustrating to me because I feel like I don't trust either side, I feel like they are blinded by their hate for the other.

Brain scan's have shown here cerebral cortex has liquified...as far as her knowing whats going on...I sure hope she doesn't.

[caseysmom]

Pam...I might add I have become unusually fixated on this case also...guess it touches a cord with many of us.

[Pam]

Originally posted by caseysmom
Pam...I might add I have become unusually fixated on this case also...guess it touches a cord with many of us.

Indeed it does. I am drawn to this in a way I could have not imagined. I wonder what the implications will be going forward. My heart aches for the parents. They obviously love her and want to care for her and are not being allowed to do so. I just cannot imagine their pain. Without a living will how can anyone rule against them?

[catland]

Originally posted by Pam
Terri is not in a coma.
She is not on life support.
She laughs, cries, vocalizes.
Her face brightens for her mother.
She swallows.

”So why don't they let her mother feed her?”

The husband/guardian doesn't allow.
His lawyers don't allow.
The judge & courts do not allow.

Who do we believe anymore? what you describe is not a person in a persistant vegitative state.

What I beleive - (and who knows if it is the truth) is that she is PVS and everything else is deluded wishful thinking.

If she truely wasn't brain dead and was capable of such things, then this wouldn't be happening. Those who say she has these capabilities are the heartless people - not her husband and not the courts. We are being manipulated to believe their sick version of "the truth". I don't believe them, but sadly, I think that no matter what the outcome of the autopsy, they will still find a way to twist the truth to their own distorted, demented version of it to use for political gains.

[Pam]

Catland, please look inside your heart for a minute. Are you a parent? Do you have a daughter? Is your daughter alive after a 15 year horrific accident? Would you not want her to live if you saw recognition and cognitive function in her eyes? Would you not want her to live if you had never discussed her feelings about being kept alive in a compromised state? Unless you can answer yes to all of the above questions you are in no way able to begin to relate to the pain of these parents much less acuse them of anything.