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by Georgie Márquez-André March 20, 2005
NIGHTMARE, n. a frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper - something (as an experience, situation, or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror (Merriam-Webster Online) RESPONSIBLE, n. liable to account; accountable; answerable; as for a trust reposed, or for a debt. We are all responsible for the talents entrusted to us by our Creator. A guardian is responsible for the faithful discharge of his duty to his ward. Some issues are easier than others.
Terri Schiavo's case is one of these. The ramifications of this particular situation branch into our understanding of marriage, parent/adult child relation, death, life, suffering, privacy, government... Serious, serious consequences can result from how this whole thing turns out.
Like with abortion, this case may open doors which should have been left closed. A pandora's box of horrific repercussions, the result of one decision.
We are facing tragic conflicts,
Is Terri Schiavo's husband a horrific monster consumed with hatred and anger towards his wife and her parents? Or, is he fulfilling her wishes, spoken in private, a husband/wife understanding? Are Terri's parents the loving supporters of an abandoned daughter...fighting for her life... rescuing her from a horrible life of abandonment? Or, are they consumed with grief, unrealistically forcing her to endure life trapped in her damaged body?
Personally, I think she should be fought for... I believe that as long as there is breath, there is a soul and a spirit that can be touched and in relationship with the Creator, and therefore, there is value and hope. And I draw the line on starving and dehydrating any living being... human or not. It is not merciful, it is barbaric. But neither do I believe in heroic measures when there is no hope of recovery... breathing tubes, resucitation, or in certain cases, antibiotics.
So what is the answer? From personal experience, as someone who had to face my mother's comma and vegetative state... do not leave it up to your relatives... do not add pain to the grief of tragedy... decide now, while you are healthy and whole, and make sure that those around you know what YOU would choose. My mother, thankfully, had a living will. And so, when the time came to make a decision, she was taken off her breathing tube. On the same day, she was hooked to a feeding and hydration tube and made as comfortable as possible. With the tube out, she passed away, peacefully, a few hours later. It was her decision... and all we had to do was hand the living will to her doctor... her orders were followed to the letter.
So... tonight, I had "the talk" with my husband, and he is clear on what I want... and I am clear on what he wants... but the truth is, if neither one of us is around and it falls on our son... So... we will be putting it down on paper... and SO SHOULD YOU!!! PLEASE!!!
Have a blessed week.
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