CNN.com readers react to Terri Schiavo's passing. Those on both sides of the debate wish her peace wherever her spirit has gone. One comment -- in italics -- is very apropos and quite heart-rending.
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CNN.com - Your e-mails: Personal impact - Mar 31, 2005
This case has touched me very deeply and very personally. One year ago my 23-year-old son stopped breathing when his throat swelled shut due to strep throat. Since then, he has been in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state, but more accurately he is minimally conscious. He had no advance directive and I don't know what is the right thing to do by him. If asked if Chad would want to live like this, I can say with certainty that he would not. I don't think anyone would, but I am not 100 percent sure that he has no chance at any meaningful recovery. Until that time, I will do everything in my power to find treatment options, conventional or not, to try to help my son. I am taking care of him at home. My heart goes out to Terri's family. I thought there was nothing worse than losing a child. I now believe there is. I grieve every day. I question myself every minute. Who am I doing this for: me or him? This is not the child I knew. It is his body, his face, but it is not him anymore. I have no closure and most likely am holding on to false hopes. I love him with all my heart as I know Terri's family did too. This is a fate worse than death.
Jeanne Kunis; San Jose, California
It is a sad day for both the Schiavo and Schindler families. They have lost a wife, daughter and sister. What should have been a private family matter was exploited shamelessly to further the current administrations pro-life agenda and help right wing conservatives to further vilify the judicial branch. The impact on me was to spur me to complete a living will so there will be no confusion of what I want should I end up in a similar situation.
Stacey Carpio; Simi Valley, California
It is frightening to see how a person's healthcare wishes to not be kept alive by artificial means can be so easily cast aside as a result of family in-fighting and political maneuvering. I plan to put my healthcare directive in writing so that the horrendous fate that befell Terry Schiavo (living for 15 years in a vegetative state)can never happen to me. No president, politician or governor should have any say in my end-of-life choices.
Gail Taylor; Fresno, California
This case has affected me both physically and spiritually. I think that Terri died many years ago. It makes me think of myself and the many possibilities life bring. If I were Terri, I would want my loved ones to respect my wishes and put themselves to the side. I have since discussed these issues with my loved ones, and even had a living will drawn up.
Sarah; Tampa, Florida
I'm only 24, right around the same age as Terri was when she began this fight, and I have taken the steps to notify my family on my wishes, should I ever fall to the same fate. If anything is to be gained from this, I hope that it's many people making their wishes known. I cried when I heard of Terri's death as if I lost my own friend. We will never truly know if Terri Schiavo and Michael Schiavo had a conversation about being kept artificially alive. He certainly does not stand to gain anything from her death any longer -- I'm sure anything he did stand to receive was put to legal bills long ago. One would hope that he was truly fighting for what Terri would have wanted for all this time...fighting for a principle. I pray her true wishes were respected and I pray that she is free of her physical prison, as we'll never know if she was in a mental one, and in a better place. God bless.
Lia L.; New York, New York
The Terri Schaivo case has only re-affirmed what I have felt for some time: We should all be allowed to die with dignity. Michael Schiavo repeatedly said that his wife told him that she would not want to live the way she did, yet this battle carried on. Whether it's written in a will or not, when someone tells you what they want, what they feel, aren't you obligated, above any morality, religious or otherwise, to obey their wishes? I find it disgusting that the state legislature, the governor, and the president became involved in what should be regarded as a very private and personal decision. It makes me wonder if they ever thought, "What would I want if I was Terri?" Did her parents ever consider this question? Did all the "mourners" and religious folk that gathered consider this? Death can be a terrifying prospect, but being alive and living are not the same thing. Terri Schiavo is at peace now.
Michael Albert; Ellensburg, Washington
I believe this case will definitely have lasting social impact. It has caused people to think seriously about their own feelings regarding end-of-life care and the importance of making your wishes clear to others.
Sandi Pelton; Weymouth, Massachusetts
I think this case will make a huge impact on the American people. Because of the media attention given to this debate many people now know about living wills. I personally know several people who were not even aware that there was a specific document that could make a person's wishes known regarding long-term care. I have always said that I wouldn't want to be kept alive in a vegetative state, but now my family knows that as well thanks to the discussions brought up by this case. I am glad that they will never have to go through what the family of Terri Schiavo has...on both sides of the debate.
Lisa Sylvester; Irving, Texas
Reading these comments drives a point home: most Americans feel that the government should have no part in such a private, personal matter, and they view the abortive legislative intrusions on the state and national levels with revulsion. And they are right to do so.
Terri deserved better than to have her final weeks and days and hours be turned into a crass, politically-motivated circus. Those who did so should be heartily ashamed of themselves. Do not forget what they did to this poor woman and her family to advance a partisan agenda. And do not let others forget, either.