This year marks the 21st anniversary of Terri Schiavo’s tragic, court-ordered death by dehydration. On March 18, 2005, Florida Judge George W. Greer ordered the removal of her feeding tube, condemning her to a harrowing 13-day ordeal of starvation and dehydration that ended in her death on March 31.
For the next thirteen days, the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network will honor her memory by reflecting on those final, horrific days of her inhumane treatment. This commemoration serves not only to remember Terri but also to raise awareness about the countless individuals currently enduring similarly agonizing, prolonged deaths in hospices, nursing homes, and hospitals – both in the United States and around the world.
Congressional Intervention Fails to Spare Terri Schiavo
Published: 03/18/2005
(WND) – Doctors removed Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube carrying out her estranged husband’s requested court order allowing the brain-damaged woman to starve to death over the objections of her parents. Barring an intervention, Terri Schiavo is expected to live another week to 10 days.
Reports conflict over whether Michael Schiavo was present when the tube was removed. A spokesman for Michael Schiavo told BayNews9 TV in Tampa, Fla., Michael Schiavo was in attendance, that a prayer service was held first and then Michael called him after doctors completed their work. “He was hard to understand,” said John Centonze, the brother of Michael Schiavo’s live-in fiance Jodi Centonze, with whom Schiavo has two children.
“He was pretty emotional, upset and crying about it,” said John Centonze. “You know, he still loves her. That was the love of his life.” However, Michael Schiavo’s attorney, right-to-die advocate George Felos, told reporters at a news conference televised by WFTS-TV that a “representative of Michael Schiavo” was present in his stead.
Michael Schiavo, who has been living with Jodi Centonze for 10 years, has said he will marry her after his wife’s death. CONTINUE
My family founded the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network so no other family endures what we did with Terri. If you’d like to honor Terri on the 21st anniversary of her death, and support our work protecting vulnerable patients, please donate here. God bless you, Bobby Schindler