Commentary - 2003: The Year in Review (excerpted)    

 

 
"Supporters of Terri Schiavo and her parents sent tens of thousands of e-mails to Florida legislators. It is believed that this activism played a large role in both the governor and the legislature moving so quickly to save Schiavos life."

 

 
January 2004

 

 
Christian Examiner
 
 
To submit a comment or Letter to the Editor: info@christianexaminer.com

 

 
The fight for life had a different kind of face in 2003 -- the face of Terri Schiavo, who is alive and once again receiving food and water after a week of extensive legal wrangling in October.

Terri Schiavo has lived in hospitals and a hospice-care center since she suffered brain damage after her heart stopped in 1990 because of a suspected potassium imbalance [also suspect, but largely hushed by the apparent 'power' of 'husband' Michael Schiavo are the injuries that included possible asphyixiation/strangulation and many broken bones, described as 'a history of trauma.']. Although unable to speak or feed herself, all of the 40-year-olds organs function without artificial assistance. She is fed food and water through a feeding tube in her stomach. Terri had no living will, but her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo, claims [only after ten years, and AFTER he won a huge monetary settlement] that his wife never wanted to be kept alive by artificial means, and also claims that she is in a persistent vegetative state. His assessment was challenged by the woman's parents, who believe she can be rehabilitated and wish to keep her alive.

After Schiavo successfully won a court order to remove his wife from the feeding tube, an emergency act by the Florida legislature, allowed [Florida Governor] Jeb Bush to intervene by ordering that the feeding tube reinserted.

Focus on the Familys James Dobson asked his organization's advocates to voice protest over the removal of Terris feeding tube. The pro-family, pro-life Christian group organized a massive e-mail campaign.
 
Supporters of Terri Schiavo and her parents sent tens of thousands of e-mails to Florida legislators. It is believed that this activism played a large role in both the governor and the legislature moving so quickly to save Schiavo's life.

 

Copyright 2004, Christian Examiner.