> > > > > > > > In a message dated 3/22/05 8:08:59 P.M. Central > > > > > > > > Standard Time, > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > So, why not let the parents assume guardianship, > > > > > > > > and care for her as > > > > > > > > they want? Who exactly is she a burden to - that > > > > > > > > she deserves to > > > > > > > > die. Do you really believe her husband genuinely > > > > > > > > cares for her? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > lurk
> > > > > > > > I have to agree with this point of view. Obviously > > > > > > > > Michael has abandoned her > > > > > > > > and now has a common law wife with children, not > > > > > > > > exactly your devoted loving > > > > > > > > husband. Her family loves her and wants to take care > > > > > > > > of her. Michael should > > > > > > > > lose guardianship just on the basis that he has left > > > > > > > > her for another woman. With respect to the slandering of Michael Schiavo by some of this list based apparently on their viewing of TV talk shows, I recommend reading the report by the Guardian Ad Litem, an official neutral party appointed by Gov Bush in 2003 to examine the case and report back its findings to the Court. I'll put the link below, but include some relevant quotes about Michael first. (Also as to why not let the parents become guardians, they have not now nor ever sought that responsibility.) "Theresa's husband, Michael Schiavo and her mother, Mary Schindler, were virtual partners in their care of and dedication to Theresa. There is no question but that complete trust, mutual caring, explicit love and a common goal of caring for and rehabilitating Theresa, were the shared intentions of Michael Shiavo and the Schindlers... His [Michael's] demanding concern for her well being and meticulous care earned him the characterization by the administrator as "a nursing home administrator's nightmare". It is notable that through more than thirteen years after Theresa's collapse, she has never had a bedsore... In late Autumn of 1990, following months of therapy and testing, formal diagnoses of persistent vegetative state with no evidence of improvement, Michael took Theresa to California, where she received an experimental thalamic stimulator implant in her brain. Michael remained in California caring for Theresa during a period of several months and returned to Florida with her in January of 1991... By 1994, Michael's attitude and perspective about Theresa's condition changed. During the previous four years, he had insistently held to the premise that Theresa could recover and the evidence is incontrovertible that he gave his heart and soul to her treatment and care. This was in the face of consistent medical reports indicating that there was little or no likelihood for her improvement... Michael's decision not to treat was based upon discussions and consultation with Theresa's doctor, and was predicated on his reasoned belief that there was no longer any hope for Theresa's recovery. It had taken Michael more than three years to accommodate this reality and he was beginning to accept the idea of allowing Theresa to die naturally rather than remain in the non-cognitive, vegetative state... It took Michael a long time to consider the prospect of getting on with his life � something he was actively encouraged to do by the Schindlers, long before enmity tore them apart. He was even encouraged by the Schindlers to date... The court established a trust fund for Theresa's financial award, with SouthTrust Bank as the Guardian and an independent trustee. This fund was meticulously managed and accounted for and Michael Schiavo had no control over its use. There is no evidence in the record of the trust administration documents of any mismanagement of Theresa's estate, and the records on this matter are excellently maintained... Michael Schiavo had earlier, formally offered to divest himself entirely of his financial interest in the guardianship estate [in order to remove any hint of bias in his decision to remove the feeding tube]. The hearings and testimony before the trial court leading to the decision to discontinue artificial life support included admitted hearsay from Theresa's brother-in-law (Michael Schiavo's brother) and his wife (Michael's Schiavo's sister-in-law) along with testimony from Michael. The testimony of these parties referenced specific conversations in which Theresa commented about her desire never to be placed on artificial life support. The testimony reflected conversations at or proximate to funerals of close family members who had been on artificial life support. The context and content of the testimony, while hearsay, was deemed credible and consistent and was used by the court as a supporting bases for its decision to discontinue artificial life support... The Testimony provided by members of the Schindler family included very personal statements about their desire and intention to ensure that Theresa remain alive. Throughout the course of the litigation, deposition and trial testimony by members of the Schindler family voiced the disturbing belief that they would keep Theresa alive at any and all costs. Nearly gruesome examples were given, eliciting agreement by family members that in the event Theresa should contract diabetes and subsequent gangrene in each of her limbs, they would agree to amputate each limb, and would then, were she to be diagnosed with heart disease, perform open heart surgery. There was additional, difficult testimony that appeared to establish that despite the sad and undesirable condition of Theresa, the parents still derived joy from having her alive... http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf Having cared for terminally ill people I can say it is a physically and emotionally exhausting job, and that Michael Schiavo performed this role for many many years is a true testiment to his honor as a human, and if Terry had not explicitly express her wishes to him to not remain alive on live support beyond hope of recovery, he would still be acting as caretaker. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
