(By Bobby Schindler / LifeNews.com) – Every year on March 31, I honor my sister, Terri Schiavo, and reflect on how our nation treats its most medically vulnerable citizens. Terri’s story is not just a family tragedy; it’s a warning about what happens when the sanctity of life is eroded, and convenience replaces compassion.
Terri was just 26 years old in 1990 when she suddenly collapsed at home with her husband, Michael Schiavo, for reasons that remain unknown. Although Terri sustained a severe brain injury, she was never dying. She had no terminal illness, was not on life-support machines, and was not ‘brain dead.’
With basic care, including a feeding tube necessitated by her swallowing difficulties, Terri could have lived a normal lifespan. However, after just two years, Michael lost interest in caring for his cognitively disabled wife after he began cohabiting with another woman. As Terri’s legal guardian, he subsequently petitioned the courts to remove her food and water. CONTINUE