~Terri~ A Letter from Cheryl Ford, RN

March 26, 2005
11:00 PM ET

Dearest Friends of Terri,

I am very distraught this evening. I have contemplated whether to send this
information to the people who have remained steadfast and very dedicated i
n their fight to free Terri from her captors. However, after great consideration,
I feel it is only right that I share with you, Terri's supporters, the information I have
been given to me this evening by Terri's family.

As we all have come to know, Terri Schindler is a strong woman who has an
incredible will to live. Despite the daily inhumane torture that is inflicted upon her
by estranged spouse, Michael Schiavo, (the man who has allowed her to lay
in a bed with no food and water for the past eight days,) she has been fighting
very hard to remain alive. Last Friday, in spite of her not being permitted therapy
since 1993, Terri even tried to articulate the words "I Waaaaaa " in a very loud
voice, in response to Attorney Weller saying to her, "all you have to do Terri,
is tell us you want to live, and this whole thing can be over Terri."

Under normal circumstances, considering how well hydrated and nourished
Terri has been due to receiving the balanced nutritional elements in enteral
feedings, it would seem reasonable for Terri to live for another week, or so.
However, what was reported by her family tonight, has presented my worst fears.
Terri's breathing has changed and has recently become very labored. I am
assuming this is happening so quickly because of the possible initiation of
Woodside's "exit protocol." A protocol which delivers to her nebulized morphine,
a narcotic which suppresses respirations. The "exit protocol" was obviously
written to enhance her death process. Woodside claims Morphine was to be
administered to provide her with so-called "comfort" measures. Odd, however,
they would find it necessary to administer Morphine to a patient who Schiavo and
Felos have declared all along has no pain, is without any feelings, and is brain
dead. Go figure!

In simple English, it appears they are killing Terri faster than she has the ability
to fight to stay alive any longer. Terri's family are physically and emotionally
worn out. They feel disappointed and deserted by government leaders who
they once supported. They pleaded for help from them to save their daughters
life, but were repeatedly turned down by judges who chose to err on the side
of death, as opposed to life. Sadly, leaving them alone to stand by and witness
their daughter fighting against the inhumane death of starvation and dehydration.

The callous, cruel and bizarre behaviors we have also witnessed from Schiavo
in his determination to rapidly kill the wife he claims to love; leads us to assume
he may now be on a rapid mission to leave Terri's parents with the memory of
her death on Easter.

Please pray that God continues to protect Terri. Pray that He will provide Terri
with peace as she struggles to take her final breaths. Please pray that He allows
her family to feel confident that they did everything possible to save her life.
Please pray that He allows them to know how much she loves them for the valiant
fight they have made on her behalf. Please pray that if Terri is forced to take her final
breaths, it can be with her family by her bedside and not Michael Schiavo. Pray that
someday soon she will be capable of inhaling the beauty of LIFE, in a place where
no more harm will come to her.

As Terri now lays taking labored breaths, I myself, am given a sense of peace in
knowing if she dies, she will soon be free from Michael ever bringing harm to her
again. I will no longer have to worry about what he may do to her; or, how she has
had to stay locked up in a room away from her family and the beautiful sounds of
the earth we each are all able to enjoy each day. I will pray for each of you that you
find peace within yourself in knowing you have each helped Terri in your own
special way.

In the meantime, please know, for as long as Terri is alive and fighting, I will continue
to pray for a miracle and will keep on fighting for her until her final breaths are taken.
I ask that you all join me in doing the same.

Thank you so much for being an enormous strength for Terri's family. They continue
to appreciate the love and dedication you continue to show to Terri, and to each of them.

I will keep you posted.

Respectfully, and with great admiration.

Cheryl Ford RN

Fight4Terri@aol.com