I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me. -Ps LXIX: 21b


Surely anyone visiting The Inn already knows of Terri Schiavo's ordeal. But perhaps for those sent here on a wild goose chase by the inventive, not to say erratic, suggestions of the popular search engines, this may be a revelation. This is taken with a couple of adaptations from the people at Catholic Answers and presents a succinct and horrifying precis of the facts of Terri's situation.


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A woman is about to be murdered, and you probably already know her
name--Terri Schiavo.


Please help us rescue Terri from a horrible death by starvation. The moment her feeding tube is removed, Terri will begin a long, slow, painful death by starvation and dehydration.


We need your help NOW to rescue Terri from her cruel executioners. They've already tried to kill her once before, and she fought to stay alive. But this may be the last chance Terri gets. Will you help save her life?


MEDIA LIES


If you've heard about Terri only through the news media, you've probably been led to believe things like this:


* Terri brain dead.
* She is in a coma.
* She's a vegetable.
* Extraordinary means are being used to keep her alive.
* She wants to die but her parents stubbornly won't let it happen.


None of these things are true.


Terri is NOT brain dead. She is NOT in a coma. She is NOT in a "persistent vegetative state." And she is not on ANY life-support system.



THE FACTS THE MEDIA HIDES FROM YOU


When her parents visit her, Terri laughs, she cries, she moves, and she makes child-like attempts at speech with her mother and father. Sometimes she will say "Mom" or "Dad" or "yeah" when they ask her a question. And when they kiss her hello or goodbye, she looks at them and "puckers up" her lips.


She's able to sit in a chair, she loves to listen to her favorite music, and she recognizes her brother and sister when they come to visit.


Board-certified neurologist Dr. Jacob Green of Jacksonville, Florida, who examined Terri, said unequivocally: "She is not in a vegetative state." When asked if it would be ethical to remove her feeding tube, he said, "I'd call it murder."


Terri receives food and liquid through a feeding tube because she can't swallow. In other words, Terri depends on food and water to stay alive-just like everybody else!


But her husband, Michael, wants to disconnect her only means of food so that she will slowly starve to death.


Medical experts all agree that death by starvation and dehydration is perhaps the most painful, the most tortuous, and the most agonizing way to die.


Yes, Terri's injury left her disabled. But there are tens of thousands of disabled people who depend on gastro feeding tubes every day, and they live otherwise normal lives.



Terri can breathe for herself. She is not on a ventilator. Her vital organs are working fine, which means she is not hooked up to a machine. Furthermore, she is NOT dying or being "kept alive" by artificial means. She does not have a terminal disease, and she will be able to feel pain if she is starved to death.


And that could start to happen in the next few days.



THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS


Time is running out for Terri. Her feeding tube could be removed THIS WEEK!!!


There is one last court procedure that is being tried to save Terri's life, but if it fails her feeding tube could be removed Wednesday.


If that happens then only thing that may save her might be action by Florida Governor Jeb Bush.


Governor Bush has already fought to save Terri's life. The last time her feeding tube was removed he stepped in and snatched her back from the brink of death. The Florida legislature even passed a special law--"Terri's Law"--to give him the authority to keep her alive.


But then the law was struck down by a judge, putting Terri's life on the line once again.


If the courts continue their anti-life crusade against Terri and others like her, the only thing that may save her would be action by Governor Bush.



WHERE YOU COME IN


The attorneys who are fighting for Terri's life have a few more possible ways to prevent Terri's murder. But these are last-ditch efforts that may or may not work. The courts are decidedly on Michael's side--not Terri's.


So that means we have to come to Terri's aid-especially through the amazing power of prayer and sacrifice--but also by sharing this story with everybody you know, and encouraging Governor Jeb Bush to do everything he can to rescue Terri once again.


Here's what you can do . . .


1.) First, PRAY for Terri--harder than ever before! Not enough people are praying for Terri right now. And she needs our prayers now more than ever.


2.) Second, FAST along with Terri if and when her feeding tube gets removed--and then offer up your sacrifices for her.


3.) Third, please ENCOURAGE Governor Bush to do everything he can to rescue Terri. Since time is of the essence, we recommend that you send him an e-mail at this address:


jeb.bush@myflorida.com


Or, if you prefer, you can call his office at the Florida State Capitol at (850) 488-4441.


4.) And finally, please FORWARD this e-mail to everyone on your e-mail list. [Well, this isn't an e-mail and it isn't susceptible to forwarding. But do spread the word.] The more people who know the true story about Terri Schiavo and how she is in imminent danger of being murdered, the greater our chances of achieving a victory in this life-or-death struggle between good and evil.


It's hard to believe, but there are many hard-hearted people out there who believe that, due to Terri's condition, she is "better off dead." Words cannot describe the pain and anger such sentiments cause Terri's family.


This is their daughter, their little girl. And even in her disabled condition, she still has the right to life and the right to be loved and cared for by her family.


Terri doesn't have to die. If you'll carry out the steps above, we can win this battle and save Terri's life.


Please do your part--immediately--because tomorrow may be too late.


Sincerely,


Catholic Answers


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More on Terri's plight:

Terri's Fight
Plead for her Life: More People to Contact
Hyscience
ProLife Blogs
Thrown Back (Fr Rob Johanson personal fight for Terri)
Saving Terri’s Life: My Journey With The Schindlers
By Father Robert J. Johansen