BlogsforTerri

The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:09:17 -0500

Friends, many of you were with us during the battle for Terri Schindler Schiavo's life five years ago. We're delighted that the foundation established in her name continues to the good work and will commemorate her death with a "Life and Hope" concert:

Country Legend Randy Travis Headlines the April 11 show in Indianapolis with Opening Act Collin Raye

The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation is excited to announce the first annual Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert to be held at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
This concert showcases two award-winning Country stars in a rare appearance together on the same stage! It promises to be a fabulous music show, long to be remembered by country music fans! The concert comes just days after the fifth anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death and will benefit the Foundation established by her family.

With one of the most recognizable voices in country music and over twenty-five years on the country music charts, Randy Travis is one of the top-ten selling solo country artists of all time. Collin Raye has produced five Platinum Albums, and fifteen #1 hits. But perhaps the closest to Collin's heart is his granddaughter, Haley, who is afflicted with a rare degenerative brain disorder. Collin has worked tirelessly to help find a cure for Haley and has helped other families who are faced with similar situations.

The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert will be Sunday, April 11, 2010, 7 PM at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, IN. Tickets are now available through LiveNation.

Funds raised through ticket sales and sponsorships for this event will allow Terri's Foundation to honor her legacy in many ways. Most importantly, it will allow the foundation to continue protecting the lives of vulnerable persons who are in jeopardy of having their lives hastened.

Concert details can be found at www.lifeandhopeconcert.org. For information on Terri's Foundation, please visit www.terrisfight.org.

The Media Still Gets it Wrong

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:56:46 -0500

Nearly five years after the death of Terri Schiavo myth and legend continue to be reported and repeated by the MSM. Bobby Schindler explains in a recent interview with CNA:

"I see that all the time," he continued, " and it simply is not true. They say that she was on artificial life support, without explaining to people what artificial life support means. There's this perception out there that Terri was on a machine - that people like Terri need machines to keep them alive."

"It's still being reported by the mainstream media," Schindler told CNSNews.com on Thursday. "There's things that are being said that were simply not true."

Terri Schiavo died in March of 2005 when a Florida judge ordered the removal of her feeding tube, a move that was requested by her then husband, Michael Schiavo who had custody of her. The case made headlines and was the subject of a public feud on right to life issues. Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler had fought for two years to try and prevent their daughter's death.

Bobby Schindler claimed that the autopsy report following his sister's death showed that she was in good physical shape when her feeding tube was removed, and that the pathologist indicated that Terri could have "quite easily lived a normal life span."

"Terri died because we took away her food and water," Schindler stated, "just like we would all die if our food and water was taken away."

"It took almost two weeks."

According to Schindler, the media continues to report that Terri was brain-dead, that she was on artificial life support, and that she was unresponsive and blind.

"These are simply not factually correct," Schindler stated to CNSNews.com. "It's patently false. If Terri were alive today she could be here to 'March for Life' with us. All she needed was a wheelchair, and we could have taken her anywhere. But there's the perception out there that these people basically need to be bed-ridden, and that they are unable to be taken anywhere. It's just not true."

The Passing of Rober Schindler

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:37:25 -0500

We received the sad news that Bob Schindler, father of Terri Schiavo, passed away early this morning:

The family of Robert Schindler, Sr. releases the following statement:
Robert S. Schindler, Sr., of Gulfport, Florida, father of the late Terri Schindler Schiavo, passed away August 29, 2009 from heart failure at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Robert fought valiantly to save the life of his brain- injured daughter Terri in the landmark right to life case that culminated in her imposed death by court-ordered starvation and thirst on March 31, 2005. After Terri's death, along with his wife Mary, daughter Suzanne (Schindler) Vitadamo and son Bobby Schindler, he founded the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation in St. Petersburg dedicated to supporting other families faced with the same need to fight for the rights of their disabled or otherwise vulnerable loved ones.

Robert was born in Philadelphia on October 23, 1937 and was 71 years of age. Proceeded in death by his daughter Theresa Schindler. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Suzanne Vitadamo (Michael), son Bobby Schindler and granddaughter Alexandra.

A Mass of Christian burial with visitation preceding will be scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, PA. Times and location will be announced at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, 5562 Central Avenue, Suite 2, Saint Petersburg, FL 33707, phone (727) 490-7603.

We are quite thankful for the courageous stand Bob Schindler took against euthanasia on behalf of his daughter and the disabled. He did not seek the limelight or controversy but responded by virtue of his love for his daughter and understanding of truth and justice.

Join me in praying for his family as they grieve the loss of their father.

Jill Stanek and LifeNews have more.

The Shadowy World of Assisted Suicide

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:30:26 -0500

Source: National Right to Life

"Mr. [Derek] Humphry said the network's protocols were deliberately written to avoid illegality. 'The person does everything themselves,' he said. ''They don the hood. They tie it around their neck. They reach forward. They turn on the gas.'''

Quoted in yesterday's New York Times. Humphry is chairman of the "Final Exit Network's" advisory board. The group promotes Humphry's suicide manual, "Final Exit."

Two weeks ago I wrote about "Alleged Assisted Suicide Ring Busted." If you're interested you can find out what my take on the Final Exit Network at http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/Feb09/nv022709.html.

New Terri Schiavo Documentary

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:26:54 -0500

LifeNews has more info on the new Terri Schiavo documentary:

A new documentary about the life and death of Terri Schiavo presents facts that the mainstream media distorted. Schiavo was killed in a painful starvation and dehydration euthanasia death over the course of nearly two weeks when her former husband won a court order to kill her.

Though the media maintained the disabled woman was in a persistent vegetative state experts say she was in a minimally conscious state and her family indicated she repeatedly interacted with them.

Now, Franklin Springs Family Media has put out a newly-released documentary called The Terri Schiavo Story that it says provides previously unexplored facts of the case through in-depth interviews with participants in the saga.

The documentary is hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became personally involved in the case in 2005 and is herself disabled because of a diving accident.

DOCUMENTARY OF THE TERRI SCHIAVO CASE EXPLORES IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUES OVERLOOKED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:15:24 -0500

more here

Life Support Battle in NY

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:50:51 -0500

The Post reports:

The family of a 12-year-old New York boy is entangled in a legal fight with Children's National Medical Center over whether doctors can cease life support because they believe he is brain-dead.

The dispute involves Motl Brody of Brooklyn, who was diagnosed with a severe form of brain cancer. The boy has been under the care of the Northwest Washington hospital for about six months. His tumor grew progressively worse, and doctors there pronounced him dead Tuesday night after tests showed no signs of brain activity.

His parents, Eluzer and Miriam Brody, are trying to prevent the hospital from taking him off life support because they say their faith does not define death as cessation of brain function alone. The parents, Orthodox Jews, have retained a lawyer who says that the boy's circulatory and respiratory systems are functioning, although with mechanical and other assistance.

Bobby Schindler at Princeton University

Sat, 03 May 2008 22:25:19 -0500

Remembering Terri Schiavo Three Years Later

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:36:10 -0500

Three years ago today, Terri Schiavo died after thirteen days without sustenance, having been denied by court order the most basic of necessities. We were stunned, watching in disbelief while this brain damaged, but otherwise healthy woman, was publicly subjected to a slow, excruciating death that her caregivers called "compassionate". Could this really have happened in our beloved country? Have we sunk so low that we are willing to termiate the lives of the weak and helpless because they do not have our capabilities or an acceptable "quality of life".

BlogsforTerri remembers...

We've learned many things, or at least realized and appreciated more deeply truths that were rarely tested. Life is precious and its value is independent of a person's capabilities or health status. All individuals, no matter how severe or hopeless their illness, have the basic right to nursing care, emotional support, food, and water. Our critics have a hard time understanding that diminished capabilities or suffering does not change the dignity of the individual's life.

Many have adopted a utilitarian standard on which to evaluate the acceptability of a person's life. Severe brain damage is therefore seen as dehumanizing rather than just disabling. When we asserted that Terri's life was intrinsically valuable, antagonists responded viciously, caustically attacking in the most vile and aggressive manner. Again, we were surprised.

Kevorkian Runs for Congress

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:47:48 -0500

They let him out of prison to run for congress?

Jack Kevorkian, who spent eight years in prison for his role in an assisted suicide, will take on another crusade Monday: a race for Congress....

Kevorkian, 79, is expected to run as an independent. He was convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder in the Sept. 17, 1998, death of Thomas Youk, 52, of Waterford. Youk had Lou Gehrig's disease. Kevorkian has said he participated in at least 130 assisted suicides during the 1990s. He was released from prison in June.

Actually, the reason he left prison is that he was expected to die of Hepatitis C within a year (of May 2006). Since then he's promoted assisted suicide via paid speaking engagements and now wants to represent Michigan constituents in congress.

Lauren Richardson

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:01:58 -0500

Lauren Richardson, a 23-year old non-dying citizen of Delaware, is in grave danger of being dehydrated and starved to death by order of the state, against the wishes of her father. - details at Defend Life

The Delaware Pro-Life Coalition is leading the fight to keep Lauren from being murdered by order of the state. They organized a prayer vigil yesterday afternoon near the Arbors Rehab Center in New Castle, DE [map]. If you would like to help out, the point of contact is Bess McAneny, 302-593-7876, bmcaneny@aol.com.

Are You Attending Blogs4Life 2008?

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:46:16 -0500

The Third Annual Blogs4Life Conference (blogs4life.com ) is scheduled for Tuesday January 22, 2008 in Washington DC. I'm writing with some exciting news with the hope that you'll be able to attend.

The Family Research Council is providing a first class meeting facility just a few blocks from the annual March for Life, the massive pro-life event which draws tens of thousands of pro-lifers (some estimate the crowd at well over 100,000) . A morning session is scheduled before the March with over a dozen well-known pro-life speakers including Kevin McCullough (MC), Jill Stanek, Judie Brown, Eric Scheidler, Barbara Curtis, Dawn Eden, Phill Kline, Michael New, Michael Illions, Maggie Datiles, Michelena Fredenburg, Peter Shinn and Rep. Chris Smith.

Yes, it will be action-packed and lively!

An afternoon session from Noon to 4 PM will be held in a luxurious room close to the Capitol building overlooking the March for Life. Internet access will be provided for live-blogging and a 50-inch flat screen monitor will broadcast the Rally and March for Life as it occurs. In addition, several pro-life leaders will be available for interviews and commentary.

If you plan to attend, please let us know by registering at Blogs4Life.com. Space in the afternoon session is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

More Information: Blogs4Life.com

The Modern Anathema of Living with Brain Damage

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 03:55:33 -0500

Many families are faced with decisions about what to do when their loved ones suffer serious brain injury. When individuals are unlikely to come out of so-called "vegetative states," should we discontinue nourishing them by tube feeding? Is there anything wrong with causing patients in compromised states to die from starvation and dehydration under these circumstances? We all lived through such a decision when Terri Schiavo died in 2005 in Florida. Her death raised disturbing ethical questions that continue to reverberate in society today.

read the rest

Jack Kevorkian visits Florida

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:32:49 -0500

The infamous proponent of assisted suicide was greeted by over 4,000 protesters:

As dozens of pro-life advocates rallied outside, assisted suicide crusader Jack Kevorkian delivered an angry and rambling speech. Although he can only talk about euthanasia in a limited fashion, he advocates the legalization of assisted suicide and blasted President Bush, calling him a tyrant.

The AP reports the unrepentant words of the man convicted of assisting in 130 suicides:

"I am a physician. I knew how to do it. ... I did it humanely," Kevorkian told 4,867 students and faculty.

(...) "We have a criminal group in Washington. We have a bunch of cruel dictators," he said. "Everyone should refuse to vote. That would send the tyrant a message."

(...) Kevorkian, who was paid $50,000 for his speech, said assisted suicide was a medical procedure -- something the law shouldn't be concerned with it.

(...) "It's got to be decriminalized and the law has to step out of the picture," said Kevorkian, wearing his signature blue sweater.

LifeNews reports:

He told the audience that he would be violating the terms of his parole to discuss euthanasia in an expanded sense. His attorney, Mayer Morganroth looked on during the speech.

However, he said that Greece and Rome used assisted suicide and said the ancient cultures are ahead of ours, even though America exists in a modern time.

What a mockery of the criminal justice system that let him out on parole and the taxpayers who are (indirectly) footing the $50,000 bill.

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation was critical:

The Terry Schindler Schiavo Foundation also submitted a petition with more than 5,000 signatures asking UF to cancel the speech. The foundation was established after the death of Terry Schiavo, a Florida woman who died in 2005 after being removed from a feeding tube in a high-profile battle between the woman's husband and her parents and siblings.

"My concern is this, you are paying a convicted murderer $50,000," said Bobby Schindler, Terry's Schiavo's brother. "It is poor judgment that would allow this man to speak."

Fighting for Javona

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:58:07 -0500

The parents of Javona Peters have disagreed on whether to remove a feeding tube and end what's left of her life. - more The teenager has been in a state described as "vegetative" since an "unforeseeable reaction to a routine anesthesia agent" during brain surgery in October 2007. Recent legal maneuverings appear to set an unfortunate stage for the young girls future.