EmeraldPrincessOnline
I read the obituaries daily -- lots and lots of obituaries from several different sources. (Don't ask.)
I noticed one this week that brought something to my attention I had never heard of or seen before.
A funeral home in Port Orchard, Washington, Rill Chapel, http://rill.com, is now offering Webcasts of funeral services. This was astonishing to me.
I checked it out and here's what they reveal on their Web site:
"PERSONALIZED TRADITIONAL PACKAGE * - $4,295. - includes limited & complete packages plus-
1. Webcast- broadcast of ceremony on internet (placed on "on-line" memorial).
2. Video Tribute added to "on-line" memorial.
3. Upgrade to 150 Themed Trifold Tribute Folders (in place of 100 Bifolds).
4. 16"x20" Themed Memorial Portrait or Personal Panel for casket.
5. 100 Themed Thank-You cards."
Truly, they are on the cusp of the industry. (If I decide to have a funeral for myself, I will choose the utilize the full services of Rill Chapel. However, at this time, it is my intention to donate my body to the University of Washington.)
As I surveyed other features and services on the same funeral home's Web site, I noticed something even more startling than the Webcasts.
They also advertise a service (by a company in another state) that will create a diamond from the "carbon of your loved one" as a lasting memorial. Can it get more bizarre than this? I thought the Webcasts were extraordinary, but now being able to wear "Grandma" on a chain around your neck, or in a ring with a "laser inscription" of her name on the stone is beyond extraordinary. (see below)
"A LifeGem is a certified, high quality diamond created from the carbon
of your loved one as a memorial to their unique and wonderful life. The
LifeGem diamond is more than a memorial to visit on the weekends. It is a
way to embrace your loved one's memory day by day. The LifeGem is the most
unique and timeless memorial available for creating a testimony to their
unique life."
...and all for a small fee of just $2,000.00-14,000.00 depending on the cut (ouch! Sorry, Grandma) and carat size. If the price is more than you afford, they'll even store Grandma's remains (for a cool $1,500.00 fee) until you can save up enough dough to requisition the pressing of the diamond "from the carbon of your loved one."
Happy Mother's Day to Mom (and Grandma) -- almost. Just think how those rosy-cheeked little grandkids will smile and have that extra-bright twinkle in their eyes when they're wearing you around their necks.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Reactions to Terri Schaivo's Nurse's Affidavit
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Today I sent a group e-mail message to virtually everyone in my personal e-mail Address Book. The subject matter included an affidavit filed in a Florida court by a registered nurse who had been a caregiver of Terri Schaivo at a previous nursing facility. A close personal friend who is also an R.N. sent the affidavit to me along with the phone and numbers for Governor Jeb Bush -- Phone: 850-488-4441 Fax: 850-487-0801. (At the end of this posting I will include the full text of the affidavit.)
The following is a sampling of responses I have received since sending the affidavit around:
From a retired ob/gyn physician, in southern California:
"What a bunch of junk!!
This gal was there 10 years ago!
This has nothing to do with her present condition>
Maybe I am a bit radical--I give my doctor 23 hours to have me awake,
or they turn off all machines."
From a public information officer and freelance writer:
"This whole situation with Terry has gotten to be so embarrassing; how selfish of her parents to want to keep her alive (for media attention, no doubt); makes me sick; when I think of how many more important problems there are requiring attention: people needing food, shelter, clothing, education. And these people are fighting over a vegetable. How foolish. I won't be a part of it; I don't think Americans have the right to get involved in this "tabloid" story. Sorry, it seems pointless when we have so many other things to take care of---why should this woman be singled out. I believe we have to get over the belief that we have a "right" to have life sustained beyond what is our normal checkout date."
From a police and fire dispatcher:
"Awful. Letting this poor woman starve to death.
We CAN afford to keep this woman alive.
Less money for bombs and warfare. More for health care.
Stupid politicians."
From a broadcaster:
"Boy, I hope someone steps in and stops this insanity before she's
DEAD!! It took Christ a few hours to die on the cross and this woman
is in the 12th day of her "euthanasia"! What a loving gift! 12 days of
starvation my true love gave to me, and a partridge in a pear tree!"
As promised, here is the full text of the affidavit by a registered nurse that was filed with one of the Florida courts on behalf of Terri Schaivo:
AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF PINELLAS
BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.
2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.
3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.
4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.
5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.
6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.
7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.
8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.
9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.
10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.
11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood
sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.
12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She
said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."
13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.
14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.
15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.
FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.
CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.
(Non-text portions of this message have been removed)
Today I sent a group e-mail message to virtually everyone in my personal e-mail Address Book. The subject matter included an affidavit filed in a Florida court by a registered nurse who had been a caregiver of Terri Schaivo at a previous nursing facility. A close personal friend who is also an R.N. sent the affidavit to me along with the phone and numbers for Governor Jeb Bush -- Phone: 850-488-4441 Fax: 850-487-0801. (At the end of this posting I will include the full text of the affidavit.)
The following is a sampling of responses I have received since sending the affidavit around:
From a retired ob/gyn physician, in southern California:
"What a bunch of junk!!
This gal was there 10 years ago!
This has nothing to do with her present condition>
Maybe I am a bit radical--I give my doctor 23 hours to have me awake,
or they turn off all machines."
From a public information officer and freelance writer:
"This whole situation with Terry has gotten to be so embarrassing; how selfish of her parents to want to keep her alive (for media attention, no doubt); makes me sick; when I think of how many more important problems there are requiring attention: people needing food, shelter, clothing, education. And these people are fighting over a vegetable. How foolish. I won't be a part of it; I don't think Americans have the right to get involved in this "tabloid" story. Sorry, it seems pointless when we have so many other things to take care of---why should this woman be singled out. I believe we have to get over the belief that we have a "right" to have life sustained beyond what is our normal checkout date."
From a police and fire dispatcher:
"Awful. Letting this poor woman starve to death.
We CAN afford to keep this woman alive.
Less money for bombs and warfare. More for health care.
Stupid politicians."
From a broadcaster:
"Boy, I hope someone steps in and stops this insanity before she's
DEAD!! It took Christ a few hours to die on the cross and this woman
is in the 12th day of her "euthanasia"! What a loving gift! 12 days of
starvation my true love gave to me, and a partridge in a pear tree!"
As promised, here is the full text of the affidavit by a registered nurse that was filed with one of the Florida courts on behalf of Terri Schaivo:
AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF PINELLAS
BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.
2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.
3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.
4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.
5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.
6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.
7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.
8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.
9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.
10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.
11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood
sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.
12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She
said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."
13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.
14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.
15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.
FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.
CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.
(Non-text portions of this message have been removed)
Reactions to Terri Schaivo's Nurse's Affidavit
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Today I sent a group e-mail message to virtually everyone in my personal e-mail Address Book. The subject matter included an affidavit filed in a Florida court by a registered nurse who had been a caregiver of Terri Schaivo at a previous nursing facility. A close personal friend who is also an R.N. sent the affidavit to me along with the phone and numbers for Governor Jeb Bush -- Phone: 850-488-4441 Fax: 850-487-0801. (At the end of this posting I will include the full text of the affidavit.)
The following is a sampling of responses I have received since sending the affidavit around:
From a retired ob/gyn physician, in southern California:
"What a bunch of junk!!
This gal was there 10 years ago!
This has nothing to do with her present condition>
Maybe I am a bit radical--I give my doctor 23 hours to have me awake,
or they turn off all machines."
From a public information officer and freelance writer:
"This whole situation with Terry has gotten to be so embarrassing; how selfish of her parents to want to keep her alive (for media attention, no doubt); makes me sick; when I think of how many more important problems there are requiring attention: people needing food, shelter, clothing, education. And these people are fighting over a vegetable. How foolish. I won't be a part of it; I don't think Americans have the right to get involved in this "tabloid" story. Sorry, it seems pointless when we have so many other things to take care of---why should this woman be singled out. I believe we have to get over the belief that we have a "right" to have life sustained beyond what is our normal checkout date."
From a police and fire dispatcher:
"Awful. Letting this poor woman starve to death.
We CAN afford to keep this woman alive.
Less money for bombs and warfare. More for health care.
Stupid politicians."
From a broadcaster:
"Boy, I hope someone steps in and stops this insanity before she's
DEAD!! It took Christ a few hours to die on the cross and this woman
is in the 12th day of her "euthanasia"! What a loving gift! 12 days of
starvation my true love gave to me, and a partridge in a pear tree!"
As promised, here is the full text of the affidavit by a registered nurse that was filed with one of the Florida courts on behalf of Terri Schaivo:
AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF PINELLAS
BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.
2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.
3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.
4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.
5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.
6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.
7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.
8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.
9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.
10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.
11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood
sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.
12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She
said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."
13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.
14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.
15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.
FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.
CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.
(Non-text portions of this message have been removed)
Today I sent a group e-mail message to virtually everyone in my personal e-mail Address Book. The subject matter included an affidavit filed in a Florida court by a registered nurse who had been a caregiver of Terri Schaivo at a previous nursing facility. A close personal friend who is also an R.N. sent the affidavit to me along with the phone and numbers for Governor Jeb Bush -- Phone: 850-488-4441 Fax: 850-487-0801. (At the end of this posting I will include the full text of the affidavit.)
The following is a sampling of responses I have received since sending the affidavit around:
From a retired ob/gyn physician, in southern California:
"What a bunch of junk!!
This gal was there 10 years ago!
This has nothing to do with her present condition>
Maybe I am a bit radical--I give my doctor 23 hours to have me awake,
or they turn off all machines."
From a public information officer and freelance writer:
"This whole situation with Terry has gotten to be so embarrassing; how selfish of her parents to want to keep her alive (for media attention, no doubt); makes me sick; when I think of how many more important problems there are requiring attention: people needing food, shelter, clothing, education. And these people are fighting over a vegetable. How foolish. I won't be a part of it; I don't think Americans have the right to get involved in this "tabloid" story. Sorry, it seems pointless when we have so many other things to take care of---why should this woman be singled out. I believe we have to get over the belief that we have a "right" to have life sustained beyond what is our normal checkout date."
From a police and fire dispatcher:
"Awful. Letting this poor woman starve to death.
We CAN afford to keep this woman alive.
Less money for bombs and warfare. More for health care.
Stupid politicians."
From a broadcaster:
"Boy, I hope someone steps in and stops this insanity before she's
DEAD!! It took Christ a few hours to die on the cross and this woman
is in the 12th day of her "euthanasia"! What a loving gift! 12 days of
starvation my true love gave to me, and a partridge in a pear tree!"
As promised, here is the full text of the affidavit by a registered nurse that was filed with one of the Florida courts on behalf of Terri Schaivo:
AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF PINELLAS
BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.
2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.
3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.
4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.
5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.
6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.
7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.
8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.
9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.
10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.
11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood
sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.
12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She
said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."
13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.
14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.
15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.
FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.
CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.
(Non-text portions of this message have been removed)
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Judge Judy: Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Easter is here and it will be most memorable for a tragic scar on our nation's psyche that is unfolding in Pinellas Park, Florida. Even the Pope in his own frail health has rung in on the side of life for Terri Schindler-Schaivo. I am praying for an Easter miracle, but to say "Happy Easter" has a hollowness to it much as those hollow milk chocolate eggs. They look deceptively good on the outside, but a keen disappointment awaits on the inside.
As the grievous hours of the Auschwitz-like torture of Terri drag on, I continue to think of one of the books written by Judge Judy Sheindlin. Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining: America's Toughest Family Court Judge Speaks Out In the cases heard in Judge Judy's court, she instantly reprimands litigants whenever they attempt to enter a hearsay comment into the record.
How is that of all of the judges who have reviewed Terri's case over the years have continually given standing to Michael Schaivo when he says that Terri would not have wanted to be kept alive in her circumstances? She left no written record of such a wish. She cannot speak for herself at this time. And why, oh why, do the courts allow Michael Schaivo's self-serving hearsay to be not only be allowed, but be allowed to result in the taking of her life?
Terri's parents have spoken about the wasting and other physical changes they are seeing in Terri as her life is ebbing away.
Meanwhile, the attorney for Michael Schaivo spoke to reporters after seeing Terri on Saturday and reported in essence that she has never looked better.
The incongruity is astounding.
How can that same individual insist on forcing the death of Terri when she has never looked better?
Deliberately lock a dog in a room without food or water for a week and you'd be going to jail. Deny a death-row inmate food and water? That would simply not happen. But deny fluids and feedings to a disabled woman to force her death in a drawn-out, merciless, heartless, inhumane fashion? What crime has Terri Schindler-Schaivo committed? She has committed no crime other than being an inconvenience for her husband and his efforts to move on with his "new life" and a would-be "new wife". Why should Terri have to die just to allow him to the convenience of marrying the woman with whom he has been shacking up and has now made two babies with while Terri has been lying there all these years? And he pretends to care?!?
As Judge Judy says, "Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."
Easter is here and it will be most memorable for a tragic scar on our nation's psyche that is unfolding in Pinellas Park, Florida. Even the Pope in his own frail health has rung in on the side of life for Terri Schindler-Schaivo. I am praying for an Easter miracle, but to say "Happy Easter" has a hollowness to it much as those hollow milk chocolate eggs. They look deceptively good on the outside, but a keen disappointment awaits on the inside.
As the grievous hours of the Auschwitz-like torture of Terri drag on, I continue to think of one of the books written by Judge Judy Sheindlin. Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining: America's Toughest Family Court Judge Speaks Out In the cases heard in Judge Judy's court, she instantly reprimands litigants whenever they attempt to enter a hearsay comment into the record.
How is that of all of the judges who have reviewed Terri's case over the years have continually given standing to Michael Schaivo when he says that Terri would not have wanted to be kept alive in her circumstances? She left no written record of such a wish. She cannot speak for herself at this time. And why, oh why, do the courts allow Michael Schaivo's self-serving hearsay to be not only be allowed, but be allowed to result in the taking of her life?
Terri's parents have spoken about the wasting and other physical changes they are seeing in Terri as her life is ebbing away.
Meanwhile, the attorney for Michael Schaivo spoke to reporters after seeing Terri on Saturday and reported in essence that she has never looked better.
The incongruity is astounding.
How can that same individual insist on forcing the death of Terri when she has never looked better?
Deliberately lock a dog in a room without food or water for a week and you'd be going to jail. Deny a death-row inmate food and water? That would simply not happen. But deny fluids and feedings to a disabled woman to force her death in a drawn-out, merciless, heartless, inhumane fashion? What crime has Terri Schindler-Schaivo committed? She has committed no crime other than being an inconvenience for her husband and his efforts to move on with his "new life" and a would-be "new wife". Why should Terri have to die just to allow him to the convenience of marrying the woman with whom he has been shacking up and has now made two babies with while Terri has been lying there all these years? And he pretends to care?!?
As Judge Judy says, "Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Anger du Jour
EmeraldPrincessOnline
The heartbreaking, gut-wrenching saga of Terri Schindler-Schaivo languishing in terminal thirst and starvation at the insistence of her so-called husband and her betrayal year after year, layer after layer of the court system, has stymied my appetite for food. The angst is almost unbearable.
Closer to home than Terri's plight, tonight I learned that a family we are close friends with who are keeping their aged, debilitated, agitated mother at home, "caring" for her in her final days are committing a similarly unspeakable act. The seeming ideal of being surrounded by family caregivers and living out one's final days in one's own home, is an illusion at best. What appears on the surface to be a lovely picture really is a mirage. The woman's doctor has proclaimed that since she is refusing food and drink (as of two weeks ago) because her pain is so great, that her death will come in the next three days. I was feeling so sad for all of them as they prepare to lose their mother. But wait, there's more!
The blockbuster tidbit of news that leaked out this evening is that the doctor had ordered morphine to help control her pain in her final days, but the "family" has decided that "she doesn't need it" so they're withholding it from her, meanwhile, she's writhing in anguish. And they (the seven siblings) are all bawling around in crisis about their mother dying -- yet won't even give her the medication to ease her pain through this end-of-life phase. Boo-hoo-hoo.
What in the hell is wrong with these people?
I had already lost my appetite before hearing this, but when I learned of her pain and that the family says "she doesn't need'' the morphine, I feel not only anorexic, I am angered. I feel such an absolute rage that helpless people such as this woman in her final days are surrounded by their devoted caregivers who really don't give a rat's ass.
All they're clucking and cooing about is the lament that they didn't get her to sign over her estate while she was still competent and did not give any one of them power of attorney.
They discovered $5,000.00 tucked away in a book at her house today. Now they're going through all of her books in search of any additional cash she may have stashed over the years. She probably hid it with good reason from those vultures.
They don't have a legal leg to stand on.
They just have wait a few more days now, (morphine might have stretched the time even longer) clamoring to be at her right hand when she exhales that last agonal breath.
I just want to puke.
The heartbreaking, gut-wrenching saga of Terri Schindler-Schaivo languishing in terminal thirst and starvation at the insistence of her so-called husband and her betrayal year after year, layer after layer of the court system, has stymied my appetite for food. The angst is almost unbearable.
Closer to home than Terri's plight, tonight I learned that a family we are close friends with who are keeping their aged, debilitated, agitated mother at home, "caring" for her in her final days are committing a similarly unspeakable act. The seeming ideal of being surrounded by family caregivers and living out one's final days in one's own home, is an illusion at best. What appears on the surface to be a lovely picture really is a mirage. The woman's doctor has proclaimed that since she is refusing food and drink (as of two weeks ago) because her pain is so great, that her death will come in the next three days. I was feeling so sad for all of them as they prepare to lose their mother. But wait, there's more!
The blockbuster tidbit of news that leaked out this evening is that the doctor had ordered morphine to help control her pain in her final days, but the "family" has decided that "she doesn't need it" so they're withholding it from her, meanwhile, she's writhing in anguish. And they (the seven siblings) are all bawling around in crisis about their mother dying -- yet won't even give her the medication to ease her pain through this end-of-life phase. Boo-hoo-hoo.
What in the hell is wrong with these people?
I had already lost my appetite before hearing this, but when I learned of her pain and that the family says "she doesn't need'' the morphine, I feel not only anorexic, I am angered. I feel such an absolute rage that helpless people such as this woman in her final days are surrounded by their devoted caregivers who really don't give a rat's ass.
All they're clucking and cooing about is the lament that they didn't get her to sign over her estate while she was still competent and did not give any one of them power of attorney.
They discovered $5,000.00 tucked away in a book at her house today. Now they're going through all of her books in search of any additional cash she may have stashed over the years. She probably hid it with good reason from those vultures.
They don't have a legal leg to stand on.
They just have wait a few more days now, (morphine might have stretched the time even longer) clamoring to be at her right hand when she exhales that last agonal breath.
I just want to puke.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Linda's Reminder: Joy truly is in the journey
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Aunt Malena, in her 80s, frail, inhabiting a body wracked by the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis and metastatic cancer, continued to focus her time and remaining energy to work on preparations for the family reunion the following year. Sadly, she didn't live to see it come to fruition. I was awash in grief over the disappointment that she did not live long enough to see the reunion come together. When I wrote about that my friend, Linda, a wise and compassionate R.N., she wrote back a most insight-filled note of condolence. Linda expressed her belief that what is important is being involved in something, working toward a goal, whether or not it is reached in one's lifetime. That was a real lightbulb moment for me. It made so much sense and was so comforting. Recently, Linda sent me the following story about two brothers. The conclusion is similar. I'd like to share it. This story of the two brothers is certainly along that same line. Thanks for the reminder, Linda. The joy truly is in the journey.
Joy in the Journey:
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.
"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors. "We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.
After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"
Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for - to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!
But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way!"
Aunt Malena, in her 80s, frail, inhabiting a body wracked by the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis and metastatic cancer, continued to focus her time and remaining energy to work on preparations for the family reunion the following year. Sadly, she didn't live to see it come to fruition. I was awash in grief over the disappointment that she did not live long enough to see the reunion come together. When I wrote about that my friend, Linda, a wise and compassionate R.N., she wrote back a most insight-filled note of condolence. Linda expressed her belief that what is important is being involved in something, working toward a goal, whether or not it is reached in one's lifetime. That was a real lightbulb moment for me. It made so much sense and was so comforting. Recently, Linda sent me the following story about two brothers. The conclusion is similar. I'd like to share it. This story of the two brothers is certainly along that same line. Thanks for the reminder, Linda. The joy truly is in the journey.
Joy in the Journey:
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.
"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors. "We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.
After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"
Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for - to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!
But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way!"
Terri Schindler-Schiavo: Euthanize the weasel, but let Terri live
EmeraldPrincessOnline
Why should Terri Schindler-Schiavo have to essentially be put to death for the convenience of her husband? How is it that in our modern day American culture a person's right-to-life is somehow secondary to someone right-to-death? I am passionate about Terri's situation. No doubt the strain of all of these years of her being disabled has taken a toll on the entire family, however, her husband has shown that he is a weasel.
Jeb Bush did a good thing when he stopped the efforts to remove her PEG tube.
Why the judges in Florida have sided with her husband and how they could want her blood on their hands, I do not understand.
Why, oh why, if her parents are willing to assume the financial responsibility for her ongoing care, why doesn't her husband just go to Nevada, get a quickie divorce, and get on with his life with the woman he has made multiple babies with, but leave Terry alone and allow her to live. Why couldn't her parents be granted guardianship of Terri? I don't see why she has to die for his convenience.
There are many photographs and day-to-day updates on the process through the courts of Terri's desperate case which can be found on the Web at http://www.terrisfight.org. One picture says it all for me: the look of love captured as Terri is smiling and straining to reach her mother.
Euthanize the weasel. Let Terri live.
Why should Terri Schindler-Schiavo have to essentially be put to death for the convenience of her husband? How is it that in our modern day American culture a person's right-to-life is somehow secondary to someone right-to-death? I am passionate about Terri's situation. No doubt the strain of all of these years of her being disabled has taken a toll on the entire family, however, her husband has shown that he is a weasel.
Jeb Bush did a good thing when he stopped the efforts to remove her PEG tube.
Why the judges in Florida have sided with her husband and how they could want her blood on their hands, I do not understand.
Why, oh why, if her parents are willing to assume the financial responsibility for her ongoing care, why doesn't her husband just go to Nevada, get a quickie divorce, and get on with his life with the woman he has made multiple babies with, but leave Terry alone and allow her to live. Why couldn't her parents be granted guardianship of Terri? I don't see why she has to die for his convenience.
There are many photographs and day-to-day updates on the process through the courts of Terri's desperate case which can be found on the Web at http://www.terrisfight.org. One picture says it all for me: the look of love captured as Terri is smiling and straining to reach her mother.
Euthanize the weasel. Let Terri live.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Trial Outcomes: Scott Peterson and Robert Blake
EmeraldPrincessOnline
What is the cosmic synergy that sealed the fate of Scott Peterson and Robert Blake on the same day? Or is it just that now that we have the new crime spree to ruminate over from Atlanta so it was time to make room for all of the TV coverage of Brian Nichols, and in order to make way, it was time to wrap-up the months and years of trial coverage for Peterson and Blake to clear the decks for an intense focus now on Brian Nichols. Hardly a blip on the radar about the eight dead in the church shootings near Milwaukee.
And by what irony is it that Scott Peterson (O! So guilty!!!) was convicted and is sentenced to death by lethal injection, yet Robert Blake (O! So guilty!!!) was acquitted by all 12 of 12 jurors on the murder counts, yet there was the one juror holdout who voted to find him guilty of "lying in wait". And how is it then that an innocent man, a man who (per their verdict) did not murder nor arrange for the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakely, just exactly how is it that there was one holdout on that count?
Once again the trial outcome in the case of Robert Blake screams to the whole rest of the world that people in America and the criminal justice system here is bipolar at best.
While watching the live coverage of the announcement of the verdicts in Robert Blake's trial, as he was overcome with emotion on hearing the "not guilty", he reached for some medication (perhaps nitroglycerin for a heart condition) then dropped to the floor. As he sat there reeling in the shock of the moment -- being guilty no one could have been more surprised by the verdict than Robert Blake himself -- as he gasped for air and drew in that big, deep-cleansing breath, I couldn't help but wonder what Bonnie Lee Bakely's last big, deep-cleansing breath was like -- in that moment of terror/horror as she was being murdered. Too bad the video cameras weren't rolling to record her final moments and her big deep breath as they were focused today on Robert Blake in the courtroom.
Just because someone is a one-time TV star, how is it in our culture that that gives them immunity from conviction for murdering their wives? But hey, if you're a manure a.k.a. fertilizer salesman, you're goin' down, pal. (Not that it is not deserved in Peterson's case. I just don't see that the two cases are all that dissimilar.)
For all the Scott Petersons and Robert Blakes of the world: good-bye, so long, it (hasn't) been good to know you.
What is the cosmic synergy that sealed the fate of Scott Peterson and Robert Blake on the same day? Or is it just that now that we have the new crime spree to ruminate over from Atlanta so it was time to make room for all of the TV coverage of Brian Nichols, and in order to make way, it was time to wrap-up the months and years of trial coverage for Peterson and Blake to clear the decks for an intense focus now on Brian Nichols. Hardly a blip on the radar about the eight dead in the church shootings near Milwaukee.
And by what irony is it that Scott Peterson (O! So guilty!!!) was convicted and is sentenced to death by lethal injection, yet Robert Blake (O! So guilty!!!) was acquitted by all 12 of 12 jurors on the murder counts, yet there was the one juror holdout who voted to find him guilty of "lying in wait". And how is it then that an innocent man, a man who (per their verdict) did not murder nor arrange for the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakely, just exactly how is it that there was one holdout on that count?
Once again the trial outcome in the case of Robert Blake screams to the whole rest of the world that people in America and the criminal justice system here is bipolar at best.
While watching the live coverage of the announcement of the verdicts in Robert Blake's trial, as he was overcome with emotion on hearing the "not guilty", he reached for some medication (perhaps nitroglycerin for a heart condition) then dropped to the floor. As he sat there reeling in the shock of the moment -- being guilty no one could have been more surprised by the verdict than Robert Blake himself -- as he gasped for air and drew in that big, deep-cleansing breath, I couldn't help but wonder what Bonnie Lee Bakely's last big, deep-cleansing breath was like -- in that moment of terror/horror as she was being murdered. Too bad the video cameras weren't rolling to record her final moments and her big deep breath as they were focused today on Robert Blake in the courtroom.
Just because someone is a one-time TV star, how is it in our culture that that gives them immunity from conviction for murdering their wives? But hey, if you're a manure a.k.a. fertilizer salesman, you're goin' down, pal. (Not that it is not deserved in Peterson's case. I just don't see that the two cases are all that dissimilar.)
For all the Scott Petersons and Robert Blakes of the world: good-bye, so long, it (hasn't) been good to know you.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Climate Change Insanity - Flooding and Drought
The Emerald City, Seattle, and the surrounding area of western Washington, make up a substantial part of the Northwest and the dominant portion of the population. Growth has continued. Demand for electricity and water have increased.
Year after year there are tremendous floods on nearly every river in western Washington (more than a dozen rivers), and every year there is whining and hand-wringing of concern about water conservation and a drought and how there isn't going to be enough water to get us through the summer.
Only a few months ago there were simultaneous news stories on local television stations and in the newspapers covering the flooding and the drought. What's wrong with this picture?
The insanity of it is that even with global climate change, even with the lack of typical rainfall to fill the regions' reservoirs through the winter months to sustain us through the next summer, it never seems to occur to public officials to increase the storage capacity of the reservoirs.
We always get the rain. We always get adequate rain. But when it comes -- such as when there is flooding -- the water runs off into the rivers and out into Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. It's not that the water doesn't come. The water, i.e. rainfall, does come, but the municipalities simply are never prepared to receive it and store it when it does come.
This is not a new problem. It has been going on for as many years as I can remember.
Year after year there are tremendous floods on nearly every river in western Washington (more than a dozen rivers), and every year there is whining and hand-wringing of concern about water conservation and a drought and how there isn't going to be enough water to get us through the summer.
Only a few months ago there were simultaneous news stories on local television stations and in the newspapers covering the flooding and the drought. What's wrong with this picture?
The insanity of it is that even with global climate change, even with the lack of typical rainfall to fill the regions' reservoirs through the winter months to sustain us through the next summer, it never seems to occur to public officials to increase the storage capacity of the reservoirs.
We always get the rain. We always get adequate rain. But when it comes -- such as when there is flooding -- the water runs off into the rivers and out into Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. It's not that the water doesn't come. The water, i.e. rainfall, does come, but the municipalities simply are never prepared to receive it and store it when it does come.
This is not a new problem. It has been going on for as many years as I can remember.
- The rain comes.
- The floods come.
- The cries of "drought" come.
- The fear of "fire season".
- The anxiety over "water restriction".
The cycle perpetuates year after year. What folly! What madness! Public utility districts need to construct more facilities to trap and store the rainwater when it comes, because it does and it will surely come. Why that precious natural resource is allowed to simply run-off into flood plains and out to sea is beyond my comprehension.
Does no one else recognize the insanity of same-day news coverage of floods AND drought?!?
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