Is all this talk about feeding tubes (NG tube for the pope, Terri Schiavo's G-tube) getting to anyone else? As the mom of a 17-month-old who's used an NG tube for about seven months of his life, I have such mixed feelings. I just feel so strange hearing about it being used for the very sick and/or old, and then for some reason I feel guilty that some people need it to hang onto life while in our case it was being used while Daniel grew strong. Or maybe there's not such a big difference. I really can't explain the emotions these stories bring out in me.

It is hard to hear when you think that it is someone 's life that is being able to live because of the feding tube and now that it is gone , thier life is being taken away. It is very :? and :cry: to me. I just hope that she is not suffering too much.

Shannon

Im having a hard time with it too, atleast dont make her suffer, they say she is dehydrated and she is of course dying without it, if they are going to take her life than take it. Although, not sure I agree with doing that, but dont make her family watch her die slowly, shriveling up and obviously dying right before their eyes. If they are going to do it, do it, if not, let her have it back! There I had my little say. Its a hard topic because everyone has there own views. But, I think we can all agree that it doesnt make sense to just let her sit there and die slowly, more for her families sake that has been fighting this.

It has been getting to me, too. Like the rest of you, I hate to see Terri just shrivel up, dehydrate and die that slow, painful starvation death. It just doesn't seem right! I heard on the news today that she's not even being allowed ice chips to wet her lips. Now how cruel is that?! I also heard on the news that her dh has a girlfriend. Sad to say, but it makes me wonder if he has alterior motives for her death. :(

Yea, and 2 children by his girlfriend, and we heard no ice chips too. If they want to let her die than atleast just do it for hers and her families sake. It makes no sense at all to just starve her, they said on the news her lips are cracking, her skin is dry from dehydration, her eyes are sunken in and the family has been ordered not to even give her ice chips to quench her dry mouth. That sounds inhumane to me.

I'm not making a judgement either way about her husband and parents' battle, but it's ironic that her brain damage was caused by a heart attack brought on by bulimia. And a feeding tube was the only thing keeping her alive.

I am absolutely sickened by it...really sickened. I have thought from the beginning that the husband had other motives, and I think someone should starve him to death...see how he likes it.

My heart breaks for her family and for her. She may be a vegetable (she looks pretty responsive to me anytime I've seen them show her though) but she still feels. I think it's reprehensible that the government would get behind something like this. I think if they are going to kill her, which is clearly what they are doing, they have made a decision to murder this person, they should at least not make her suffer for weeks and just end it quickly while she sleeps. Geez, serial killers at least get a lethal injection and this poor woman never did anything to anyone.

It just gets me so upset to think about what they are doing to her I can't even think about it.

I just heard, she died this morning. :(

I just read that too and came over here. I am so bummed, but glad she is atleast not suffering, they made it sound she would suffer for a week more. Very upset for her family. If that were my baby... I dont know what I would do.

I'm relieved -- what if her parents had won some case for putting the tube back in at this point? She'd be dealing with so much more organ damage after a week-plus without food or drink. It's just so tragic that this couldn't be handled in a more humane way.

I just heard, she died this morning. :(
OMGosh! I had no idea! Thanks for the update!

I heard that she passed away as well. I am glad that she is not suffering any more but her poor parents. :cry: Did anyone know that this was the three time that the feeding tube was taken out? I had read that yesterdayafter reading that she had passed away. This story was very sad to everyone all over the world.

Shannon

Yea, I read that too Shannon, And they made the parents leave the last 10 min before she passed on and they arent allowed to know where she is going to be buried. Hopefully that will change.

That is absolutely appauling, how could they not let a person's parents know where the person is buried, what does that possibly accomplish at this point?!?!??!

Well the "claim" is that they will tell the media and they dont want a media frenzy and that is the "reasoning"

I found the family's website: http://www.terrisfight.org/index2.html and just sent them my prayers if anyone else is interested in doing so.

Did you read the message from the family? Wow, thanks for putting the link up.

Ya, I spent a bit of time poking around the site, it was just making me even more angry though and reinforcing my thoughts from what I had seen that this woman was in no way shape or form vegetative.

I just don't understand how anyone could approve that, I mean really...what was the basis? The husband's word, who clearly had alterior motives? :sad3: There aren't even words to express how horrible this is.

I agree, I love the way President Bush put it, he said that whenever there is uncertainty on weather life or death should be chosen, you should always choose life.

And they made the parents leave the last 10 min before she passed on and they arent allowed to know where she is going to be buried. Hopefully that will change.
I heard that her parents were barred from her room while she died. As if that wasn't bad enough in itself! Now they won't even be allowed to attend their daughter's funeral? Come on... I still don't see how they managed to get away with it here in North America...

its true Janette, such a shame! I cant imagine.

I know, I can't tell you how much distain I have for this man who calls himself her husband.

I know what you mean, Roni! And I so feel for Terri's parents! That must be so awful!

My boyfriend says I live in a closet b/c I never know what is going on. He has the news on upstairs and I just heard the Pope died; but I had not heard about Terri's passing. So sad. :cry:

I guess that is why it is so important to have our feelings known before something happens. Last year, when admitted to the hospital for four days, was given all kinds of papers to have completed in case something happened. Now I understand why it is so important.

It looks like the hubby "won" the burial rites in court, now. She has been cremated. Even in death, Terri won't be able to be buried near her parents, and they were so hoping to be able to visit their daughter's grave.

Ugh, this whole thing makes me sick! How can they not let them go to the burial or have any say?

Maybe we had all better try a little more to get along with our in-laws.

I don't understand how this man can have so much power. Does he have a judge in his pocket or something? Is he somebody important, I didn't think so, but come on....he's won at every single possible turn.

Is it just because he was married to her? In my humble opinion, he lost his "rights" when he started dating someone else. If I were a judge, I would have given all of the rights to her parents.

I agree Janette, when he moved on, they should have given control back to her parents who have her best interest at heart, not their own.