LivePrayerDaily Devotional for Friday March 4, 2005
The Real Story of Terri Schiavo
(2 Corinthians 6:2)
This is a Devotional that I should have written many months ago. I apologize. In a way, it has become a personal test of my own commitment to the work God has called me to do and my faithfulness to that work. I am well aware that I could easily write a Devotional on this issue that 99% of those who read it would agree with and stand and applaud every word. I am also well aware that if I write what the Holy Spirit has led me to, many may be upset, primarily due to the incredible amount of misinformation that has circulated in regard to this tragic and emotionally-charged situation. However, if I do not share with you today what God has called me to write, then I have no business doing what I do each day. So, I will do my best to help you understand the true facts of this tragedy, as well as the REAL story of Terri Schiavo.
While most of you have only been aware of this tragedy in the past year since the national press picked up on it, the Terri Schiavo saga is over 15 years old. As someone who has followed it since day one?due to the fact it has unfolded in the same community Liveprayer is located? I want to give you a timeline of what has happened in this case since the beginning. This will be information that 99% of those who are reading this have never heard before since you have been getting most of your information from the multitude of organizations that found this to be a great ?issue? to take on once it became a national story, disseminating lots of false information as facts, and of course, using it as a vehicle to raise money for their organization.
The timeline of this story is far too extensive to put in this Devotional, so here is a link that will take you from the birth of Terri right up to the present day: http://www.miami.edu/ ethics2/schiavo/timeline.him. Several things need to be noted. First, the feeding tube that Terri currently has is something she has had since the day of her tragic heart attack over 15 years ago. Second, during the first 3 years after her heart attack, she was seen by all of the best specialists in the world who did all they could to help her. Sadly, not one was able to do anything for Terri and her physical condition has never changed. Her husband and parents were actually working together for the first three years following her heart attack. Their split came from what else, the control of the money awarded from the malpractice lawsuits that were filed on Terri?s behalf.
Over the last 12 years that her husband and parents have been fighting over her custody, every county, state, and federal court have all come to the same two conclusions. First, that it was Terri?s wish to never be kept alive through artificial means, and second, that she is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). It has been the word of her husband Michael and several of her friends that have led every court to rule Terri would have never wanted to be kept alive the way she has been these past 15 years. During these many years of litigation, Terri has been evaluated by numerous independent, court-appointed doctors. Every single doctor, appointed by every single court, has come to the same conclusion. It is the same conclusion all of the specialists who treated her during those first 3 years came to, that Terri is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) and because of the damage done to her brain after her heart attack, there was no hope of that ever changing.
I am very aware of the video many have seen where she ?appears? to be cognitive. Those doctors I have spoken to have told me that she has involuntary muscle reactions that give the appearance she is cognitive, but that is impossible since there is no brain activity. Many people were given false hope regarding Terri?s condition due to the woman in Kansas that recently came out of a coma after 20 years. There is no similarity between this woman and Terri since Terri is NOT in a coma. The woman in Kansas was brain damaged, Terri is brain dead.
Over the years, her husband Michael has become a lightning rod figure. Years ago, he made the ungodly choice to start living with a woman even though he was still legally married to Terri, and they have had 2 children together. Whatever settlement money that existed has been long gone, so Michael gains nothing from Terri?s death. Because of his immoral choices, he has been an easy target, but one day it is God who will judge him for his actions regarding Terri?s wishes and care.
I would suggest that if you are really interested in all of the facts and details of the Terri Schiavo case, you go through the 15 years of archives at the St. Petersburg Times as well as pull up the court documents from all of the litigation that has taken place. Especially informative are the court transcripts of the malpractice suits back in the early ?90s. The monetary awards were actually greatly reduced from the original amounts due to the fact they found Terri was largely responsible for the condition she was in due to her eating disorder.
The REAL story of Terri Schiavo is about 3 issues: eating disorders, Living Wills, and playing ?salvation roulette.? One of the biggest problems we have in our nation today, especially among young women, is eating disorders. Sadly, we deal with it daily here at Liveprayer and I have done entire Devotionals on this bondage so many young women, and some young men, are in today. Terri had an eating disorder. Having been overweight throughout her teen years, Terri became a slave to ?binging and purging.? This is where you eat a large meal, and then go to the bathroom and force yourself to vomit the food up. DOING THIS CAN KILL YOU!
The famous singer of so many great songs during the ?70s, Karen Carpenter, died from this. What happens to those who binge and purge is that it throws off the electrolytes in your body which can cause your heart to stop beating. You have a heart attack, not caused by clogged arteries which cuts off the blood flowing to your heart, but from what amounts to an electric shock. This is what happened to Terri on the night of February 25th, 1990 as she had a heart attack after vomiting, and literally lay dead for over 5 minutes on her bathroom floor. Most doctors say that after 3 minutes of no oxygen, your brain dies. This is what happened to Terri, and I pray today that every young woman reading this who is in bondage to an eating disorder will wake up and realize that what you are dong can KILL YOU! The time to fight this battle and get victory over it is NOW!
The second issue is having a Living Will. Even though every court has ruled that Terri did not wish to be keep alive artificially, and yes, a feeding tube is artificial, this is a great lesson on why everyone should have a Living Will. It is a legal document that covers tragedies like Terri?s, and clearly spells out your wishes. I would encourage you to contact your lawyer and draw one up. This way, YOUR TRUE WISHES are clearly spelled out, and you do not have to put your family through the gut wrenching choices of what to do if something like this ever happens to you.
The last issue I want to talk about is what I call ?salvation roulette.? I wish I had $1 for every person I talk to that tells me they will think about getting saved, they aren?t ready but will think about it. I also get tons of people that tell me they know Jesus is the only way, and before they die they will get saved. Please, listen to me right now. The Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. The Bible teaches us that tomorrow is promised to NOBODY! When you know Jesus is the only answer, and you put it off, you are playing the most dangerous game of all, ?salvation roulette.?
You are hoping that you will have another chance to ask Christ into your heart, when in fact you may not. You have no idea if God allows you to wake up in the morning, what that day will hold. I deal daily with too many people who felt fine when they woke up, but before the day was over they were dead from a heart attack or some other illness. Accidents happen every day. The reality is, you may have an accident and never have the ability to make that choice to accept Jesus. If you know Jesus is the answer, and you are putting off asking Him into your heart and life, you are playing games with your eternal soul.
I love you and care about you so much. I pray that what I have shared with you has helped to educate you on the real facts of the sad story of Terri Schiavo. I will continue to do what I have done for 15 years now, and that is to pray for God to either miraculously heal Terri or allow her to die in peace. Pray for Terri, for her parents and family, as well as Michael. I have no direct knowledge if any of them have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Being part of a church does not make you saved, only accepting Christ into your heart and life by faith saves you. Sadly, it is too late for Terri to make that choice and we must pray she did at some point before her heat attack 15 years ago. But I pray that all of the rest involved in this sad story who may not know Christ, will open their hearts to His love and come to know Jesus as their Savior.
I will also pray for you. For those who are in bondage to an eating disorder, I pray that you will look to Christ for your hope and strength and allow Him to deliver you from this bondage. As I shared with you yesterday, there is victory in Jesus! Also, please pray about putting together a Living Will. That way, in case you are ever incapacitated, your wishes will be carried out. Lastly, for those who have been putting off getting saved, don?t wait another moment. NOW is the time, since you may not have another chance. Please take a moment, ask God to open your heart, and read the words at this link: http://www.liveprayer.com/ bdy_salvatn.html.