Straight Up with Sherri

Friday, March 04, 2005

Calling ALL Bloggers for Terri! EXPOSE THE LIES!

I received an email with this "devotional" attached.


Calling all Bloggers for Terri--- let's expose the lies and evil here.


There is no telling how many people are getting this type of information.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY MARCH 4, 2005(2 Corinthians 6:2)


The REAL story of Terri Schiavo. This is a Devotional that I should have written many months ago, I apologize. In a way, it has become a personal test of my own commitment to the work God has called me to do and my faithfulness to that work. I am well aware that I could easily write a Devotional on this issue that 99% of those who read it would agree with and stand and applaud every word. I am also well aware that if I write what the Holy Spirit has led me to, many may be upset, primarily due to the incredible amount of misinformation that has circulated in regard to this tragic and emotionally charged situation. However, if I do not share with you today what God has called me to write, then I have no business doing what I do each day. So I will do my best to help you understand the true facts of this tragedy, as well as the REAL story of Terri Schiavo.


While most of you have only been aware of this tragedy in the past year since the national press picked up on it, the Terri Schiavo saga is over 15 years old. As someone who has followed it since day one due to the fact it has unfolded in the same community Liveprayer is located, I want to give you a timeline of what has happened in this case since the beginning. This will be information that 99% of those who are reading this have never heard before since you have been getting most of your information from the multitude of organizations that found this to be a great "issue" to take on once it became a national story, disseminating lots of false information as facts, and of course, using it as a vehicle to raise money for their organization.


The timeline of this story is far too extensive to put in this Devotional, so here is a link that will take you from the birth of Terri right up to the present day: ( http://www.miami.edu/ethics2/schiavo/timeline.htm ).

Several things need to be noted. First, the feeding tube that Terri currently has is something she has had since the day of her tragic heart attack over 15 years ago. Second, during the first 3 years after her heart attack, she was seen by all of the best specialists in the world who did all they could to help her. Sadly, not one was able to do anything for Terri and her physical condition has never changed. Her husband and parents were actually working together for the first three years following her heart attack. Their split came from what else, the control of the money awarded from the malpractice lawsuits that were filed on Terri's behalf.


Over the last 12 years that her husband and parents have been fighting over her custody, every county, state, and federal court have all come to the same two conclusions. First, that it was Terri's wish to never be kept alive through artificial means, and second, that she is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). It has been the word of her husband Michael and several of her friends that have led every court to rule Terri would have never wanted to be kept alive the way she has been these past 15 years.


During these many years of litigation, Terri has been evaluated by numerous independent, court-appointed doctors. Every single doctor, appointed by every single court, has come to the same conclusion. It is the same conclusion all of the specialists who treated her during those first 3 years came to, that Terri is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) and because of the damage done to her brain after her heart attack, there was no hope of that ever changing.


I am very aware of the video many have seen where she "appears" to be cognitive. Those doctors I have spoken to have told me that she has involuntary muscle reactions that give the appearance she is cognitive, but that is impossible since there is no brain activity. Many people were given false hope regarding Terri's condition due to the woman in Kansas that recently came out of a coma after 20 years. There is no similarity between this woman and Terri since Terri is NOT in a coma. The woman in Kansas was brain damaged, Terri is brain dead.


Over the years, her husband Michael has become a lightning rod figure. Years ago he made the ungodly choice to start living with a woman even though he was still legally married to Terri, and they have had 2 children together.


Whatever settlement money that existed has been long gone, so Michael gains nothing from Terri's death. Because of his immoral choices, he has been an easy target, but one day it is God who will judge him for his actions regarding Terri's wishes and care.


*I would suggest that if you are really interested in all of the facts and details of the Terri Schiavo case, you go through the 15 years of archives at the St. Petersburg Times as well as pull up the court documents from all of the litigation that has taken place. Especially informative are the court transcripts of the malpractice suits back in the early '90s. The monetary awards were actually greatly reduced from the original amounts due to the fact they found Terri was largely responsible for the condition she was in due to her eating disorder.


The REAL story of Terri Schiavo is about 3 issues: eating disorders, Living Wills, and playing "salvation roulette." One of the biggest problems we have in our nation today, especially among young women, is eating disorders.


Sadly, we deal with it daily here at Liveprayer and I have done entire Devotionals on this bondage so many young women, and some young men, are in today. Terri had an eating disorder. Having been overweight throughout her teen years, Terri became a slave to "binging and purging." This is where you eat a large meal, and then go to the bathroom and force yourself to vomit the food up. DOING THIS CAN KILL YOU!


The famous singer of so many great songs during the '70s, Karen Carpenter, died from this. What happens to those who binge and purge is that it throws off the electrolytes in your body which can cause your heart to stop beating. You have a heart attack, not caused by clogged arteries which cuts off the blood flowing to your heart, but from what amounts to an electric shock. This is what happened to Terri on the night of February 25th, 1990 as she had a heart attack after vomiting, and literally layed dead for over 5 minutes on her bathroom floor. Most doctors say that after 3 minutes of no oxygen, your brain dies. This is what happened to Terri, and I pray today that every young woman reading this who is in bondage to an eating disorder will wake up and realize that what you are dong can KILL YOU! The time to fight this battle and get victory over it is NOW!


The second issue is having a Living Will. Even though every court has ruled that Terri did not wish to be keep alive artificially, and yes, a feeding tube is artificial, this is a great lesson on why everyone should have a Living Will. It is a legal document that covers tragedies like Terri's, and clearly spells out your wishes. I would encourage you to contact your lawyer and draw one up. This way, YOUR TRUE WISHES are clearly spelled out, and you do not have to put your family through the gut wrenching choices of what to do if something like this ever happens to you.
The last issue I want to talk about is what I call "salvation roulette." I wish I had $1 for every person I talk to that tells me they will think about getting saved, they aren't ready but will think about it. I also get tons of people that tell me they know Jesus is the only way, and before they die they will get saved. Please, listen to me right now. The Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. The Bible teaches us that tomorrow is promised to NOBODY! When you know Jesus is the only answer, and you put it off, you are playing the most dangerous game of all, "salvation roulette."


You are hoping that you will have another chance to ask Christ into your heart, when in fact you may not. You have no idea if God allows you to wake up in the morning, what that day will hold. I deal daily with too many people who felt fine when they woke up, but before the day was over they were dead from a heart attack or some other illness. Accidents happen every day. The reality is, you may have an accident and never have the ability to make that choice to accept Jesus. If you know Jesus is the answer, and you are putting off asking Him into your heart and life, you are playing games with your eternal soul.


I love you and care about you so much. I pray that what I have shared with you has helped to educate you on the real facts of the sad story of Terri Schiavo. I will continue to do what I have done for 15 years now, and that is to pray for God to either miraculously heal Terri or allow her to die in peace. Pray for Terri, for her parents and family, as well as Michael. I have no direct knowledge if any of them have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Being part of a church does not make you saved, only accepting Christ into your heart and life by faith saves you. Sadly, it is too late for Terri to make that choice and we must pray she did at some point before her heat attack 15 years ago. But I pray that all of the rest involved in this sad story who may not know Christ, will open their hearts to His love and come to know Jesus as their Savior.


I will also pray for you. For those who are in bondage to an eating disorder, I pray that you will look to Christ for your hope and strength and allow Him to deliver you from this bondage. As I shared with you yesterday, there is victory in Jesus! Also, please pray about putting together a Living Will. That way, in case you are ever incapacitated, your wishes will be carried out. Lastly, for those who have been putting off getting saved, don't wait another moment. NOW is the time, since you may not have another chance. Please take a moment, ask God to open your heart, and read the words at this link: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.html

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at
bkeller@liveprayer.com

FUNNY THING!

I asked Bill to produce a document that supports Terri's "eating disorder"

His timeline makes NO mention of Terri's Bone scan showing 13 injuries!

I am sure you all can find ALL the holes in his pathetic attempts to "enlighten" us.

Our "Loving" Bill, "lead" by the Holy Spirit to support starving a woman to death, seems it appropriate to start hie emails out with condescending words, and then end in a more "loving" mood.

See for yourself:

you are a complete fool.....go to the 1993 malpractice case and you will find out that the spin you are getting is absolutely false....and that she died laying next to her toilet after purging herself...this woman battled with bulimia since high school..that's what killed her..
You will be in my prayers,
be richly blessed,

Bill Keller
http://www.liveprayer.com/

I bring this to your attention so that we can be sure to SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT before this person is able to continue spreading the lies about Terri.

I must admit- I did ask him if he got his info from Felos........

SAMPLE LETTER ADDRESING

THE MYTH ABOUT

TERRI'S EATING DISORDER!

Here is the sample letter:


Recent news reports have stated that Terri Schiavo’s collapse, and subsequent brain damage, was caused by an eating disorder. However, there is no evidence that supports this claim.

Michael Schiavo,Terri's estranged husband, sued Terri's doctor, claiming he misdiagnosed an eating disorder. The Florida Department of Health and the courts found no evidence of such a disorder and Michael lost his suit.

There is evidence, however, that Terri's collapse may have been the result of physical abuse. A 1990 bone scan revealed fractures and injuries from some sort of physical trauma.

This eating disorder myth is just one of many in the Schiavo case. Terri is a not a "vegetable" or in a "coma." She laughs, smiles, and responds to her environment. Medical professionals have testified that she speaks from a small vocabulary of words, including "Momma" and "No."

Terri is also not on any "life support." She breathes on her own and her heart rate and blood pressure all function normally without assistance.

Michael has said that Terri wanted to die in these circumstances. However, there is no written documentation of this, and she never told her family and friends of such a wish. In fact, her friends, family, co-workers and fellow churchgoers have stated that Terri was extremely upset when comatose woman Karen Ann Quinlan was disconnected from the respirator that kept her alive years ago.

And Cindy Shook, Michael's ex-girlfriend, testified that when she asked him what Terri's wishes were, he stated, "How the h*** should I know we never spoke about this, my God I was only 25 years old. How the h*** should I know? We were young. We never spoke of this."

To see videos and documentation, and to learn the real facts in this Schiavo case, visit her family's website at http://www.terrisfight.org

Thanks so much for all you do!!!!!

KEEP FIGHTING FOR TERRI.

22 Comments:

  • 1. Bill didn't call her brain-dead either, so what's your point?

    2. I agree with you that the court system has found that Michael was correct on Terri's wishes.

    3. Please provide your evidence. Something, anything.

    4. The right-to-life movement is pumping much more money into this case than the right-to-die movement. So if Bill were really after money, wouldn't he be a better fit arguing the right-to-life angle?

    Those points aside, Bill does say some things I hope y'all aren't arguing against:

    - Eating disorders are a silent epidemic (regardless of whether you believe Terri had one)

    - Living Wills are very important

    - Salvation before God is very important

    What is wrong with those messages?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:03 PM  

  • 1. Bill didn't call her brain-dead either, so what's your point?

    2. I agree with you that the court system has found that Michael was correct on Terri's wishes.

    3. Please provide your evidence. Something, anything.

    4. The right-to-life movement is pumping much more money into this case than the right-to-die movement. So if Bill were really after money, wouldn't he be a better fit arguing the right-to-life angle?

    Those points aside, Bill does say some things I hope y'all aren't arguing against:

    - Eating disorders are a silent epidemic (regardless of whether you believe Terri had one)

    - Living Wills are very important

    - Salvation before God is very important

    What is wrong with those messages?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:03 PM  

  • I think you actually do Terri a great amount of possible harm putting that article up there. Most people will read part of it, see the credentials of the writer and completely agree with the points without ever seeing your disclaimer at the bottom Sherri. Just my humble opinion. The lies are always going to drown out the truth if you present them that way in this fast tech and fast moving world.

    By Blogger jlfintx, at 3:27 PM  

  • jlfintx

    Your point is well taken- WHile managing campaigns this summer- many felt the same way-- HIDE from the lies--- NO WAY! It doesn't work.....

    Plus-- THis is NOT the final word-- This is just a way to get the other bloggers to know what to start attacking- as the lies, etc..

    Now-- Just wait-- the timeline is coming together....

    All these lies will be BLASTED VERY VERY SHORTLY!!!!

    Terri was NEVER! NEVER! DIAGNOSED as having a disorder...

    IN fact:

    Following an investigation by DOH, Prawer was reportedly cleared of all negligence and wrongdoing in the Schiavo casefollowing the settlement and convinced that he had done nothing wrong, Prawer contacted the Department of Health and reportedly turned over his entire case file on Terri Schiavo to the agency, asking them to investigate the cause of her injuries.

    and the SHOCKER!!!

    when efforts were made to obtain copies of the records in the closed Prawer investigation, the Schindler family was stonewalled for over a month by DOH officials and then told that the records did not exist, that they had been destroyed.

    “After more than 30 telephone calls, 20 faxes and nearly 100 emails to investigators and records clerks with the Florida Department of Health, I was told that the records of this particular case had long been destroyed as the Department purges such records after eight years”, Hennessey said.

    “I had been telephonically transferred by investigators to receptionists, field workers, different departments and disconnected numbers too many times to count. This leads me to think that the department is either grossly inefficient or clearly unwilling to answer questions on matters of public record”

    A recently released internal report indicates that the Consumer Services Unit (CSU) of the state Department of Health routinely failed to report potential criminal behavior by health care providers to police or prosecutors as required by law.

    The CSU investigates complaints of misconduct of all health care providers for potential discipline.

    The report shows that health officials patently ignored a 1992 law which requires that criminal behavior must be reported to law enforcement agencies.

    According to the report, in some cases, CSU investigators didn’t refer allegations to police because law enforcement officials already knew about the alleged criminal activity and chose to turn their heads. The report said that in some cases since 1992, while law enforcement agencies had been notified, no formal record----or paper trail-----exists.

    Read it ALL

    Plus this Bill fellow- points you to a timeline that has NO MENTION OF TERRI's BONE SCAN! etc....

    I am working right now to blast this to smitherines-- just wait!

    It is coming-- and it will NOT BE ABLE TO BE DISPUTED!!!

    I HAVE THE TRANSCRIPTS--

    AND EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM FOR THEMSLEVES!!!


    Thanks for your point of view though!

    It really is the majority opinion that you hold--- but following my own on this one!

    Thanks

    By Blogger Straight Up with Sherri, at 3:37 PM  

  • Sherri -- how much are you getting paid for your labor of love? I would bet you are trying to store up your treasure in heaven.


    AMEN! Not a dime by earthly measures- but I am receiving the best richest of riches.....

    Well said Levi

    By Blogger Straight Up with Sherri, at 3:42 PM  

  • 1) Bill said that what happened to Terri's brain was that it was without oxygen for at least 3 minutes.

    2) Hate to tell ya, honey, but a judge's verdict *is* the court's decision. No two ways about it. And the fact that no other court chose to take up an appeal on that verdict means is further affirmation by the court system.

    3) Ah, so you made a big inference there. Gotcha.

    4) Where do you think the Schindlers have gotten the bulk of the money they've spent on those lawyers that charged them? I'm not talking about bloggers -- to date, there has been no hard evidence that even the well-visited bloggers have made an impact in this case (let alone Sherri's little blog -- no offense Sherri, but you must realize you don't have the audience to make any real impact yet. And yes, I know your defenders will leap on this assertion, but be realistic please).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:03 PM  

  • Sherri -- how much are you getting paid for your labor of love? I would bet you are trying to store up your treasure in heaven.Not to be pedantic, but you do realize that if this is true, it's very un-Christian of you. Your motivation is supposed to come from goodness of heart, not the promise of "treasure in heaven".

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:08 PM  

  • Terri was NEVER! NEVER! DIAGNOSED as having a disorder...


    And that's why they one the malpractice suit against several of her doctors. A jury of her peers concluded the doctors should have made that diagnosis, and if they had then Terri might be walking around today.

    As the Empire Journal story points out, the doctor that the DOH cleared was just one of the doctors involved in the lawsuit. Were the other doctors cleared by the DOH (those doctors that the jury found negligent, I mean). Please let us know.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:20 PM  

  • LOL!!

    Never said treasur MOTIVATES me-- just love the peace and comfort of knowing that I CANNOT work myself into heaven-- NO ONE CAN!

    It is by grace and grace ONLY that we get there-- by the blood of Christ Himself!

    PRAISE GOD AND THANK HIM FOR HIS MERCY!

    I LOVE DOING THIS FOR TERRI!

    THAT IS MY MOTIVATION

    GOD GAVE ME GIFTS, TALENTS, AND PASSION, and NOW HE HAS GIVEN ME A WORTHY TASK TO USE THEM FOR HIS GLORY-- NOT MINE!

    By Blogger Straight Up with Sherri, at 4:24 PM  

  • By Blogger Straight Up with Sherri, at 4:33 PM  

  • So, pray tell, why exactly did the jury decide Terri's doctors were negligent? That's the one gaping hole in your story to date.

    Honestly, here's my take on that press release by the Schindlers. They were playing a little bit of a word game when they said "never a determination by any court .. that Terri ever suffered from .. an eating disorder .. that would lead to a heart failure at the age of 26".. The "word game" I'm talking about is that last qualifying clause "that would lead to .. age of 26". Of course the jury didn't determine something that specific. So taken literally, that awkwardly constrained statement is correct.

    I'm not suggesting the Schindlers are bad people. But they're working with lawyers and every word in a press release is there for a reason.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:44 PM  

  • One thing I'm having a hard time tracking down is the part of the transcript/timeline where the Schindlers agreed with Michael that Terri was PVS. I hope your transcripts/timelines include that (no hiding of facts, remember, please).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:46 PM  

  • Oh my goodness, Sherri! I feel for you with this "anonymous" poster. I had a troll (someone who's just looking to waste your time and cause trouble) on my site much like this one posting under the anonymous title. He/she also argued in circles and never was interested in the truth. If I were you, I'd not allow comments from anonymous posters anymore (I turned off that function on my site recently) and send the troll away.

    By Blogger BlondeBlogger, at 5:59 PM  

  • LOL! That's funny....I just posted my comment and saw that a fellow "right wing nut" posted at almost the same time as me, lol!

    By Blogger BlondeBlogger, at 6:04 PM  

  • If I were you, I'd not allow comments from anonymous posters anymore (I turned off that function on my site recently) and send the troll away.

    LOL there it is! Someone with a knee-jerk reaction that those with dissenting views must be trolls! LOL from what I've seen, I don't think Sherri will be so quick to run away from a debate.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:13 PM  

  • I agree, I think anonymous should not be allowed anymore, at least have them register so they can not impersonate someone else. Never did hear about the poster of the phone number and what become of that issue.

    By Blogger jlfintx, at 6:20 PM  

  • anonymous

    jlfintx has a point. DO you mind if I ask you a favor, you are not obligated, but it sure would help to make sure you are not confused with any other anonymous comments.

    Why not just come up with a nic name of sorts. You don't have to register it- but just leave it at the end of your posts.

    Of course, you don't have to, but I think it would just help the debate seem a little more honest from your side. Calling you anonymous is almost dismissive to you and a nic name would allow you at least an impression of more respect....

    Just a suggestion, by no means do you need to.

    Thanks alot, and YES-- I am glad you are here.

    By Blogger Straight Up with Sherri, at 6:28 PM  

  • I am working on a few finishing touches for the timeline....

    should be up tonight....

    as for the email being posted....

    I think I should clarify a little-- I was trying to respond to the concerns about it while doing 10 things at once-LOL!!

    so here we go:

    1) Kerry tried to ignore the swift boat vets- and it blew up in his face....

    2) this email was not just one person sending me an email... a regular reader sent it to me- because there are links provided at the miami edu link in the email. and thought the documents would be helpful to me- plus had concerns over the content. I was aghast to see that someone was circulated this email and wanted to be sure we addressed it- instead of letting it gain traction without us even knowing it was out there-- this way-- maybe us bloggers for Terri could dispell the lies before others even GOT this email....

    3) it has sparked some GREAST comments and thought....

    Majority would advise against putting it up there-- I know, but again- just following my instincts.

    I did notice that anonymous disappeared once I posted the link to dispell the whole heart attack thing and gently asked for some kind of an identifying name....

    If anonymous was truly passionate about truth, I don't understand why a nic would be a problem????

    THIS IS WHAT INTEGRITY IS ALL ABOUT!

    MY NAME, MY FACE, MY THOUGHTS, IT IS ALL HERE FOR YOU TO SEE...

    I HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND ON IT!!!

    By Blogger Straight Up with Sherri, at 8:46 PM  

  • I just got an email from Bill Keller (his Live Prayer update) and told him to unsubscribe me. I told him that I could not take anything he says seriously after his advocating the death of Terri Schiavo.

    By Blogger BlondeBlogger, at 5:08 PM  

  • Wow...this guy is something else. Here's Bill Keller's reply to my email:

    "I agree...since you obviously can't read....anybody who thinks I advocated
    her death is a complete moron....excuse me...illiterate moron

    You will be in my prayers, be richly blessed,
    Bill Keller
    www.liveprayer.com"

    By Blogger BlondeBlogger, at 2:55 PM  

  • Does anyone know where I can find an official transcript of the original malpractice trial, the one where Michael never mentioned that Terri told him she would want to die, and instead said that he was planning on taking care of her for the rest of her life?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:59 PM  

  • Keeka...

    You and me both! I've also been receiving Bill Keller's devotionals and was also excited about reading the devotional on Terri Schiavo. I thought for sure I knew where he stood and was completely shocked after I had read the devotional. I'm still subscribed, though, and I'm hoping one day he'll admit he was wrong on this issue just as he admitted he was wrong on his 2004 election prophecy.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:50 PM  

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