A Life That Matters by Terri's Family:, Robert Schindler Page B
Authors: Terri's Family:, Robert Schindler
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figures, which Woodworth later presented to the jury, that estimated the cost of Terri’s medical and neurological treatment for the rest of her life, along with her rehabilitation.
Prawer and Igel had never tested Terri properly, Woodworth claimed. They’d been negligent. Neither Michael nor us nor any of Terri’s friends had ever seen any sign of bulimia in Terri. Yet, as Bob said,
something
happened.
Somebody
was responsible.
What was to ensue broke my heart. The time I spent working with Michael to help Terri improve would soon seem a facade. What Michael wanted was to favorably influence the malpractice jury that he was a dedicated husband. When I realized this, I cried so much I can still taste the tears.
The case went to trial in November 1992. Its outcome signaled a 180-degree turn in our relationship with Terri’s husband. From being the closest of allies, united in our love for Terri and our desire to give her every chance at the best life possible, we became sudden enemies, bitter opponents in “The Schiavo Case” that divided the country as it divided Michael and us.
CHAPTER 6
Medical Malpractice
Q (Glenn Woodworth): Why did you learn to become a nurse?
A (Michael Schiavo): Because I enjoy it and want to learn more how to take care of Terri.
Q: You’re a young man. Your life is ahead of you. When you look up the road, what do you see for yourself?
A: I see myself hopefully finishing school and taking care of my wife.
Q: Where do you want to take care of your wife?
A: I want to bring her home.
Q: If you had the resources available to you, if you had the equipment and the people, would you do that?
A: Yes, I would, in a heartbeat.
Q: How do you feel about being married to Terri now?
A: I feel wonderful. She’s my life and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. I believe in my wedding vows.
Q: You believe in your wedding vows. What do you mean by that?
A: I believe in the vows I took with my wife, through sickness, in health, for richer or poor. I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I’m going to do that.
Moving testimony from the 1992 trial, told with passion and conviction, accompanied by Michael’s sobs and tears. Bobby and I were in the courtroom as Michael testified, and were deeply moved. I imagined then that our son-in-law was feeling as much pain as I was. Michael said nothing about Terri’s wish to die in case of a traumatic injury.
Michael had repeatedly told us that any money he won, and Terri won, from the lawsuits would go toward her rehabilitation. When Terri came back from California and was living at MediPlex, Dr. Yingling urged us to move Terri to the Shands Hospital rehabilitation center in Gainesville. 1 Michael and we agreed that when and if Michael received an award, this would be our plan. Michael promised that Shands would be her next stop, for it was her best hope. 2
We believed him, even though all through 1991–92, there were indications that Michael was neither the good husband nor the diligent caretaker he portrayed himself as being during the trial.
In the summer of 1991, he transferred Terri from the MediPlex rehab center to the Sabal Palms nursing home in Largo, Florida. Michael told us MediPlex had recommended we discontinue rehab, that it made no sense to keep her there. This was the beginning of the end. From that point forward, Terri was denied any chance of improving. Tragically, she was never to receive any rehabilitation or therapy again. We were legally unable to stop him—we had, remember, given up our right to have a say in any medical decisions regarding our daughter—but he told us he was doing it for her good, that he had investigated the nursing home and was convinced she would be well cared for until the medical malpractice money came through.
• It was in this period (September 1991) that he had the terrible fight with Suzanne.
• It was in this period that he began a relationship
Prawer and Igel had never tested Terri properly, Woodworth claimed. They’d been negligent. Neither Michael nor us nor any of Terri’s friends had ever seen any sign of bulimia in Terri. Yet, as Bob said,
something
happened.
Somebody
was responsible.
What was to ensue broke my heart. The time I spent working with Michael to help Terri improve would soon seem a facade. What Michael wanted was to favorably influence the malpractice jury that he was a dedicated husband. When I realized this, I cried so much I can still taste the tears.
The case went to trial in November 1992. Its outcome signaled a 180-degree turn in our relationship with Terri’s husband. From being the closest of allies, united in our love for Terri and our desire to give her every chance at the best life possible, we became sudden enemies, bitter opponents in “The Schiavo Case” that divided the country as it divided Michael and us.
CHAPTER 6
Medical Malpractice
Q (Glenn Woodworth): Why did you learn to become a nurse?
A (Michael Schiavo): Because I enjoy it and want to learn more how to take care of Terri.
Q: You’re a young man. Your life is ahead of you. When you look up the road, what do you see for yourself?
A: I see myself hopefully finishing school and taking care of my wife.
Q: Where do you want to take care of your wife?
A: I want to bring her home.
Q: If you had the resources available to you, if you had the equipment and the people, would you do that?
A: Yes, I would, in a heartbeat.
Q: How do you feel about being married to Terri now?
A: I feel wonderful. She’s my life and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. I believe in my wedding vows.
Q: You believe in your wedding vows. What do you mean by that?
A: I believe in the vows I took with my wife, through sickness, in health, for richer or poor. I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I’m going to do that.
Moving testimony from the 1992 trial, told with passion and conviction, accompanied by Michael’s sobs and tears. Bobby and I were in the courtroom as Michael testified, and were deeply moved. I imagined then that our son-in-law was feeling as much pain as I was. Michael said nothing about Terri’s wish to die in case of a traumatic injury.
Michael had repeatedly told us that any money he won, and Terri won, from the lawsuits would go toward her rehabilitation. When Terri came back from California and was living at MediPlex, Dr. Yingling urged us to move Terri to the Shands Hospital rehabilitation center in Gainesville. 1 Michael and we agreed that when and if Michael received an award, this would be our plan. Michael promised that Shands would be her next stop, for it was her best hope. 2
We believed him, even though all through 1991–92, there were indications that Michael was neither the good husband nor the diligent caretaker he portrayed himself as being during the trial.
In the summer of 1991, he transferred Terri from the MediPlex rehab center to the Sabal Palms nursing home in Largo, Florida. Michael told us MediPlex had recommended we discontinue rehab, that it made no sense to keep her there. This was the beginning of the end. From that point forward, Terri was denied any chance of improving. Tragically, she was never to receive any rehabilitation or therapy again. We were legally unable to stop him—we had, remember, given up our right to have a say in any medical decisions regarding our daughter—but he told us he was doing it for her good, that he had investigated the nursing home and was convinced she would be well cared for until the medical malpractice money came through.
• It was in this period (September 1991) that he had the terrible fight with Suzanne.
• It was in this period that he began a relationship
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