Statement of the Schindler Family
March 31, 2005
.
Pinellas Park, FL – As you are aware, Terri is now
with God and she has been released from all earthly burdens. After
these recent years of neglect at the hands of those who were supposed to
protect and care for her, she is finally at peace with God for eternity.
We are speaking on behalf of our entire family this evening as we share
some thoughts and messages to the world regarding our sister and the courageous
battle that was waged to save her life from starvation and dehydration.
We have a message for the volunteers that have
helped our family:
Thank you for all that you’ve done for our family.
Thank you to the hundreds of doctors who volunteered to help Terri.
Thank you to the fifty doctors who provided statements under oath to help
Terri. Thank you to the lawyers who stood for Terri’s life in the courtrooms
of our nation. From running our family’s website, to driving us around,
to making meals, to serving in so many ways—thank you to all of the volunteers
who have been so kind to our family through all of this.
We have a message for the supporters and people
praying worldwide:
Please continue to pray that God gives grace to
our family as we go through this very difficult time. We know that many
of you never had the privilege to personally know our wonderful sister,
Terri, but we assure you that you can be proud of this remarkable woman
who has captured the attention of the world. Following the example of the
Lord Jesus, our family abhors any violence or any threats of violence.
Threatening words dishonor our faith, our family, and our sister, Terri.
We would ask that all those who support our family be completely kind in
their words and deeds toward others.
We have a message to the media:
We appreciate your taking Terri’s case to the nation.
Please afford our family privacy to grieve at this time.The patience and
graciousness of the on-site media here at hospice has been deeply appreciated
by our family.
We have a message to the many government officials
who tried to help Terri:
Thank you for all that you’ve done. Our family
will be forever grateful to all of the outstanding public servants who
have tried to save Terri.
We have a message to all of the religious leaders
who tried to help Terri:
Thank you to all people of faith who demonstrated
love for Terri and strength of conviction to defend the sacredness of all
human life as a precious gift from God.
Our family is highly honored that the Holy Father,
Pope John Paul II, would speak out so boldly on behalf of our sister, Terri.
We have a message of forgiveness:
Throughout this ordeal, we are reminded of the
words of Jesus on the cross: “Father forgive them for they know not what
they do.” Our family seeks forgiveness for anything that we have done in
standing for Terri’s life that has not demonstrated the love and compassion
required of us by our faith.
We have a message to parents worldwide:
Our family would encourage parents to spend time
with their children and to cherish each and every moment of each and every
day with them as a precious gift from God.
We have a message to Terri from her family:
As a member of our family unable to speak for yourself,
you spoke loudly. As a member of our family unable to stand under
your own power, you stood with a grace and a dignity that made your family
proud. Terri, we love you dearly, but we know that God loves you more than
we do. We must accept your untimely death as God’s will.
Terri, your life and legacy will continue to live
on, as the nation is now awakened to the plight of thousands of voiceless
people with disabilities that were previously unnoticed. Your family
intends to stand up for the other “Terri’s” around this nation and we will
do all that we can to change the law so others won’t face the same fate
that has befallen you.
We have a final thought to share:
Our family had hoped this day would never come,
but as it has now arrived, we ask ourselves a question in these incredibly
sad circumstances: What would the Lord Jesus ask us to do in a moment
like this? In John’s Gospel, Jesus responded to the questions of
the rabbis, who asked why a man had been born blind. He said: “it is so
that the works of God might be made manifest through him.”
God’s plan for Terri is unfolding before our eyes.
Our prayer at this time is that our Nation will remember the plight of
persons with disabilities and commit within our hearts to defend their
lives and their dignity for many generations to come.
Bobby Schindler and Suzanne Vitadamo
  
Share this
page with your family and friends!
(This
button will take viewers to the page you are viewing right now.)
NOTE: ALL
e-mail addresses are kept confidential...
NEVER
harvested and
NEVER shared with anyone
other than
who YOU send this page to.
|
