One Living, One Dying, One Pre-born

Just about the time when I think that Terri's case has lost public interest, I suddenly get a slew of alerts from many different areas. From friends who have read different articles online, from columists whose column I just came across tonight, though written a couple of weeks ago, to news on TV, in hard print media, and internet media.

Such is the case this past week. John Leo has an excellent column entitled "An Autopsy Won't End It" reviewing someone else's work. He ends with:

"The autopsy confirms the extraordinary damage to Schiavo and discredits those who tried to depict the husband as a wife-beater. But the autopsy has nothing to say about the core moral issue: Do people with profound disabilities no longer have a right to live? That issue is still on the table."

THAT is the fundamental question here. As I was doing a tube feeding on a resident who is severely disabled (what they used to call severely mentally retarded, long ago in the dark ages... as many do not understand what I say when I use the terms developmentally/cognitively disabled person) the other day, a repeat of Larry King's interview with Paul Chaim Schenck, Justin and Jason Torres (which I had read the transcript of awhile back) came on the TV in his room. I thought... how ironic that I am here, with a severely disabled individual, and they are talking about quality of life, and saving the baby of a woman whose massively bleeding brain tumor from melanoma had essentially rendered her 'brain dead'.

Three people very disabled, all getting care from others for similar, yet very different reasons, and ALL THREE persons being Children of God, having a dignity that deserves to be respected...

All three? Yes, all three. My resident, Susan Torres, and ... her baby. Life.

Three disabled, one unborn at the time, relying on others.

Dignity. Respect for who each is. Child of God. One living, one dying, one pre-born.

They EACH had a right to live until that heart stops...naturally. And none are being starved/dehydrated to death.....

God bless.