Against The Grain

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Terri Schiavo saved!

Monday 11:01PM - Life Matters reports that:
The Florida House voted late Monday to give Gov. Jeb Bush the power to intervene in [the case of Terri Schiavo].
The House voted 68-23 in favor of the bill. . . . The bill would give the state's governor 15 days to order a feeding tube to be reinserted in cases like Terri Schiavo's. The governor's power would be limited to cases where a person has left no living will, is in a persistent vegetative state, has had nutrition and hydration tubes removed and where a family member has challenged the removal.
Schiavo, 39, meets all the bill's requirements.
Bush said in a statement earlier Monday that lawmakers understand the "unique and tragic circumstances of Ms. Schiavo's case, and I am hopeful the Legislature will pass a bill immediately."
Update Tuesday 4:27pm From Times Against Humanity:
Your efforts, calls, e-mails, and faxes have made a difference! . . . the Florida State Senate has just passed the Terri Bill, which now goes to Gov. Jeb Bush for his signature. According to the Associated Press, "the House approved the [Senate] bill 73-24 after the Senate passed it 23-15."
Update - Tuesday Evening - Fox News' Hannity & Combes are covering the case. Gov. Bush signed the executive order for the reinsertion of the feeding tube. Terri is currently being re-hydrated (the first step of the process). According to Fox News:
After the Senate's vote, a cheer went up among about 80 protesters outside Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park.
"We are just ecstatic," Bob Schindler said after Bush told him he would issue the order. "It's restored my belief in God."
Suzanne Carr, Terri Schiavo's sister, called the development "a miracle, an absolute miracle." Terri's mother broke down crying when she heard the news.
To Gov. Bush and Florida Lawmakers, to those who spread the word by phones and over the web, to those who were present at the vigil -- thanks to you, Terri is alive today.