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On February 25, 1990 Terri Schiavo suffered cardiac arrest, collapsed and fell into a coma.  She suffered massive brain damage due to extended deprivation of oxygen.  It was determined that the heart attack was brought on by nutritional deficiencies resulting from Bulemia.  The legal battle that ensued between her husband and her parents ignited a national firestorm.  Everyone seemed to take sides.  You either were with the parents in wanting to keep her alive or with her husband who said that Terri's wishes were to not be kept alive artificially.  Sadly, it seems to me, no one was on Terri's side.  Neither side appeared to have her best interest at heart.  Her parents wanted to keep her alive because they felt that she was responding to them and that she was aware of their presence, despite much medical evidence to the contrary.  This is in some way moving, but in the end, selfish.  They weren't able to let their daughter go and let her be at peace.  They put themselves first.  As far as her husband, one need only look at her grave marker to get a glimpse at his motives.  He makes a point of declaring on her grave that "I kept my promise."  It seems more a statement of "I won" to the world than a whispered sentiment to a dead spouse.  The marker also states that she was a beloved wife, but makes no mention of her being someone's daughter.  This truly is the final act of selfishness and a direct insult to her parents.  One last "I won" from a "doting" husband.   There is precious little information available about the person that Terri Schiavo was.  It seems most everyone wants to concentrate on arguing in favor of the side that they are on.

RIP TERRI - TODD