Letter to Governor Bush: Concerns from a Florida RN

 

December 31, 2003

 

Dear Governor Bush:

I sent the following questions and medical facts to Pat Anderson and Bob Schindler.

I thought you should also have a copy. 

 

I am a nurse with 25 years experience.

 

Prior to becoming a nurse, I was a Paramedic. 

 

Because of time restraints, I [have] only raised a few of the many inconsistencies I see. 

 

If I could be assured [that] you actually received my email, I would take the time to clearly explain my concerns and rationale to you. 

 

Unfortunately, because of the many email you receive,  I have a feeling you will not see my email. 

 

Therefore, I am afraid to waste lots of time writing down what I see and have come to know after intensely studying this case for 2.5 months.

I will also say it is very frightening to reside as a citizen in the state of Florida after knowing the way the judicial system is operated here. 

 

I, along with many other citizens, feel as though we are living in a leftover branch of Nazi Germany. 

The only comfort I have at this time is to at least know [that] our Governor is normal and is looking out for the people's best interest.  

 

Please, I implore you to never leave office, for you are who the people are looking to for their ultimate safety, if ever needed.

Sincerely,
Cheryl Ford RN
813-695-0870
813-837-4563 (w)

Pat & Bob,

I wanted to check with Dr. Hammesfahr before bringing upon some questions I have regarding Terri's medical records.  However, I don't wish to wait to hear from him. Therefore, I will share some of my observations and questions with the both of you.

The hypokalemia that Terri presented to the hospital could have been coincidental, but not related to Terri's trauma.  Most likely however, as we discussed, also not reason for her arrest or anoxia, without her exhibiting other symptoms prior to her episode of losing consciousness.  Especially since, cardiac enzymes were not present, and her serial EKG's were stated as normal.

Questions regarding observations:

* Terri had hypokalemia(low potassium) but her labs reveal she was acidotic.  This does not make sense because acidosis is significant with hyperkalemia (elevated potassium), not hypokalemia(low potassium).

This is very suspicious and should be pointed out to a reputable MD.  I wondered if this was ever in question, or [even] noticed. 

*Question: Was there blood in her Urinalysis?  Her labs reveal "RBC's [red blood cells] too many to count." Indicative of blows to the abdomen?!?

*Food for thought:

If someone injected insulin into a normal person, their potassium levels would drop.

The results would then explain the tonic seizure activity which appeared to follow in Terri's situation. 

Of course, if he injected her with insulin on that night...keeping in mind that insulin was once in question at a later date in a nursing home...then...we have a tie to the insulin issues again!   Indeed, explaining why a sudden drop in her potassium level [had no] other labs to correlate with malnutrition, or coronary arrest.

* Patient's do not faint face down...another area of concern not to be ignored, or forgotten.

* It needs to be pointed out that Michael had said he rolled Terri over in his Larry King report. 

 

Yet the police report clearly states when they arrived, she was face down. 

Did anyone ever question the fact that maybe he did do exactly what he stated he had done on Larry King's show?  

Perhaps she did faint and when he approached her and  tried to "shake her up" as he stated on Larry King, he then created a closed head injury as they do in "Shaken Baby Syndrome" or rapid acceleration/deceleration of the head. 

 

She then suffered Anoxia from brainstem trauma, which would then be indicative of her decereberating posture followed by her heart stopping. 

Which area of her brain indicates injury?

Was there IntraCranial Pressure? 

These are vitally important questions that should be asked and looked into, as medical evidence in Terri's case.

Another potential...if a person grabs a person by the back of the neck and jerks a person's neck in an assault to the head, or as in attempts to suffocate/asphyxiate ... it could be clear that she suffered Anoxia first...which results in lack of oxygen, or lack of blood supply to brain (such as following a cardiac arrest).

Contrary to the situation that was initially portrayed, i.e., arrest first, then anoxia.

Note:  When Dr. Hammesfahr completed his extensive examination of Terri in 2002, he stated in his findings that her hypoxic encephalopathic strokes (right side sensory responses are different from left), also suggesting a spinal cord injury at around level C4.  "C" is the cervical area of the neck.

He also noted at the very bottom of his report, "Interestingly, I have seen this pattern of mixed brain (cerebral) and spinal cord findings in patients once before, a patient who was asphyxiated."

Issues of my consternation: Schiavo repeatedly tries to use the diagnosis of Bulimia, yet he is not a medical doctor. You all stated to me in an earlier email there was NEVER a diagnosis made by any treating physician, diagnosing Terri with Bulimia.

If this is indeed so, when Schiavo states she has Bulimia, he needs to be stopped dead in his tracks.

He is stating a diagnosis -- which he is not qualified to do -- thus adding false merit to his case.  Grrrrgh!

Michael also states [that] no one took a vial of blood to check Terri's K+ levels.

Was there reason for physicians to do blood work on Terri?

Other than her gynecological exam, was she seen for other medical issues by other doctors? 

If there was not reason, then why were the doctors found to be at fault?

More thoughts...

In addition to the medical aspects, in reviewing questions and answers on the Larry King show...I find several inconsistencies.

Larry King asked Michael if Terri ever spoke. 

Michael responded by saying, "not one word." 

Yet, an affidavit of a caregiver states quite differently.

He also made the blanket statement on King, "nobody talks about death" yet.  

Ironically he claims [that] Terri talked to him and others about her death wishes. 

I might also point out something [that] Michael Schiavo stated on the Larry King show, "he will not give her back to her parents for the simple fact of what the father had said in the first trial."

1. She is not "owned" by Michael Schiavo, nor should be thought of, or referenced, as "his" to give back.

2. This is [the] statement of a very angry man who demonstrates actions and statements made by a sociopath. He is using Terri as his victim just to punish her parents. The courts have condoned is actions and that is why he will not stop.

Once again ...none of the facts 'jive.' 

I mainly am sending this email because of noticing Terri's acidotic state associated with the hypokalemia and hope someone will reevaluate what appears medically evident.

No need to answer this email if you don't wish to do so.

I would just like it very much if someone please printed this out and kept it somewhere until at least a physician, or Jeb Bush's attorneys read it.  

I am hoping that they will shed his/her professional opinions, and then maybe use some of the facts as  evidence to show the many medical conflicts in this case.

Thank you and Happy Holidays,

Cheryl Ford RN

 

fight4terri@aol.com