My father too.... and here's what's making me CRAZY(!!)......

> slipped fast at the end, so whether her wishes would be respected
> regarding this was never an issue. I suppose that's one of the few
> blessings regarding her death.

It wasn't in writing, but he said often enough, he "would rather croak." But he died 31 days after his diagnosis and I never had to make such a terrible decision.

I consider myself very, very lucky in that regard...

But I can't stop thinking about Terri's parents.

This is a person who can hear and understand (did you see the video where she opens her eyes on command?).

She can experience happiness (see her smiling when her mom plays with her?).

She can experience and irritation (see her trying to get away from the Q-tip in her mouth?).

She can obviously recognize people.

She isn't "dying" and she isn't "being kept alive by artificial means." If that were the case, then I agree they should probably take the husband's word for it and "let her die" (if I were her parents it would kill me, but sometimes those awful decisions have to be made).

This is completely different.

TWO THINGS MAKE ME CRAZY (besides thinking what the parents must be going through):

1. What the hell kind of society is this where a judge (a mere mortal) can make such a decision? A few years back, there was a baby WITHOUT A BRAIN (I'm not talking "brain dead," I'm talking about one of those poor little babies born without brain). She(?)... (my memory is shot; maybe I should be allowed to die)... what? oh yes... She(?) had been kept alive for SEVERAL YEARS (most definitely by artificial means, well duh) because her mother "was waiting for a miracle." She was in an institution, at government expense -- and the staff was forced to take attention away from kids WITH brains, who had reason for hope, and give her full care BECAUSE A JUDGE ORDERED IT. With mountains of scientific evidence in front of him showing that these kids live only minutes (or maybe a little longer, but they *always* die and there is *NO* hope), he was allowed to make that decision. (It isn't even fair to the mother to watch this poor empty little creature breathe for years when reality says nothing can change.) (Note, Terri even has a brother who wants to take care of her after her parents die, if she lives that long, so she will *not* become a "burden on the state.")

2. Are mass murderers on death row starved to death? Why not? Because it would be "cruel and unusual punishment." They die painlessly. This woman obviously has a strong will to live, because she has been starved before (twice I think, but again, I can't remember) -- the last time I believe it was something ridiculous like 7 or 10 days (during which time she came very close to death, but there was an armed guard stationed there TO KEEP HER MOTHER FROM SEEING HER OR SAYING GOODBYE TO HER -- COURT ORDER!). Can you even imagine what it feels like to go that long without food or water? If a painless death is good enough for a man who has tortured and murdered 10 children, WHY IS IT OKAY TO TORTURE THIS WOMAN TO DEATH?? She should "die by lethal injection"... it's the humane thing to do... we even do it for cats and dogs and pet rats... but of course the judge can't order that, because it would feel too much like... M-U-R-D-E-R.

God, this makes me sick.

I don't pray much -- I'm not even sure I believe in it -- but this has me praying overtime.

I usually try to put myself in someone else's shoes, but I can't even stand to think about what it must be like to be in her parents' shoes right now -- it's just too awful -- and they have gone through his over and over and over again.

I've really gotta get working but I can't concentrate.

Thanks for listening to me.

I'll leave you with this politically incorrect thought:

If Terri is killed, it hope it triggers a reaction somewhere and that legislation is passed so that this never happens again...

and then I hope that every person involved in her death -- including the judge who ordered it, and the lawyer who fought for it, and the husband who demanded it either on his own or because he was his lawyer's puppet -- are tried and convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.

There have to be consequences for this or we are worse off than I thought.

Luv,