The past several weeks I’ve withheld comment as I, along with the nation and the world, stood by while the drama of Terri Schiavo’s struggle was waged. Fact of the matter is that I’ve been aware and casually watching for the past several years when this struggle first came to light.

Quite frankly, at first I thought, why are they doing this to her? She’s not there, she’s only a shell, let her go. Pull the plug and let nature take its course. But then I learned more.

Terri is not on life support as the liberal media claim. She is not unconscious. She is aware. She feels pain. She laughs and cries. She responds to her family, friends and caretakers. It’s only that she needs a feeding tube to supply nourishment, and therapy that holds the promise of taking food normally and so much more.

While the liberal media persists in denying the things Terri is able to do, they also actively deny a voice to those who see value in Terri and hope for her life. It was only on FoxNews "Hannity & Colmes" that we heard of Dr. Bill Hammesfahr, and Nobel Prize nominee who has examined Terri extensively and claims there is great hope for her.

He has seen amazing recoveries in his work with patients with injuries and damage beyond Terri’s condition. Yet the liberal media and their political allies turn a deaf ear, a blind eye and say, “there’s not hope, she cannot understand anything, she’s in a ‘persistent vegetative state.’” With a PVS comes the inability to comprehend and react to any beneficial or effective stimulus. Someone in a ‘persistent vegetative state’ cannot understand even the obvious.

It would seem while Terri apparently can, the left either cannot or will not. Perhaps they are the ones in a ‘persistent vegetative state,’ not Terri Schiavo. Should they be denied life? Not even I would suggest that!

Is there really hope for Terri? Consider this.

I have a friend, she is also a Terri, who several years ago suffered a severe blow to the head and terrible damage to her brain. This vibrant, jubilant woman in an instant became unable to speak, eat, walk and all the other wonderful, creative and joyful things she had done for years. Many would say she was like Terri.

Yet she was allowed and encouraged in therapy and while there remain difficulties, she lives! She walks, with difficulty. She talks and converses, with difficulty. She struggles to live as normally as she can, with difficulty. But the point is, there was no expectation that she would, yet she does.

Is she 100% as she was before the accident? No, she never will. But she was given the opportunity to become all that she could. No one tried to deny her that.

There is a hell bent determination by the liberal left to condemn Terri Schiavo, to end her life, despite the evidence of hope. This I cannot understand.

Were Terri Schiavo a convicted murder on death row and a tiny bit of evidence came to light that might exonerate her, the liberal media, politicians and activists would walk through the coals of hell to stay the execution and save her life. They understand that once she was gone it was too late.

Why are they so determined to kill her now?

If Terri was anorexic and starving herself there would be cries of her need for treatment, her life would be of worth and need saving. Appeals of the horror of self-starvation could not be quieted.

Yet she’s not and it’s ok for someone else to starve her.

The pervasive culture of death in our country is determined to make Terri Schiavo as their “cover girl,” their “Miss Death.” Yet from all indications there is at best strong disagreement whether Terri would want that “honor.”

Has the minister of this “culture of death,” Attorney George Felos, co-opted an unwitting Michael Schiavo in his unrelenting quest for free wheeling, anything goes death in America? Felos history on this matter speaks for itself.

Has Michael Schiavo enlisted Felos in his struggle to quiet Terri, to prevent her from possibly recovering enough to speak? I only ask this last question because of the circumstances.

Terri suffered her trauma, what ever it was, 15 years ago. Ten years ago Michael moved in with his girlfriend, sired two children, all while in control of a million dollar judgment in Terri’s case. Over that time he denied her therapies and treatments that held hope for her improvement.

Now, with his common law wife at his side, who he says he will marry as soon as Terri is out of the way, he claims she wanted to die rather than live in this “condition.” We have his word on it.

In interviews and affidavit, a former caretaker of Terri’s, Carla Sauer Iyer, has quoted him asking when “the bitch was going to die?” The same person tells of finding Terri overdosed on insulin immediately after Michael left her. An overdosing that could have resulted in her death. While these accusations have not been dealt with in a court, they are very troubling.

While Terri’s parents and siblings are pleading for the chance to sacrifice their lives to care for Terri, it seems Michael would sacrifice Terri, the one he stood in front of an altar and promised to love and care for in sickness and health.

I have to ask, what sacrifice would Michael have to suffer by Terri’s living that is so great she must die? Does Terri know something that Michael does not want, cannot possibly allow, to be made known?

As terrible as divorce is, I know, I’ve been there, death of a spouse is so much worse. I know, I’ve been there. So what is it about the call of Terri’s death that tastes so sweet to her loving husband Michael Schiavo?

Would if be a hard life, a struggle and sacrifice to care for someone in Terri Schiavo’s condition? Absolutely! But it would be a struggle and sacrifice of honor and love. Can every one do it?

All can, not all will. My friend Terri? Her husband of 15 years divorced her and left her with her loving parents to care for her while he took their children. Did I agree with him? No. But in light of what Michael Schiavo wants to do to his Terri, I honor my friend’s husband.

At least he had the honor to admit he couldn’t handle it and allow someone who loved her more and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices care for her.

All Michael Schiavo wants is death.

More on Terri's condition:
Facts Versus Michael Schiavo by Cherly Ford RN
Disabled Woman Would Cry 'Help Me,' Caregivers Claim - CNSNews.com
If only Terri had murdered someone - Burt Prelutsky

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