The news of Terri Schiavo's death on 31 March 2005 reached me in full force
in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of Entabeni Hospital in Durban. I was surrounded by
spurious efforts to save people's lives but a few times cubicle curtains were closed and
there was a hush as the dead were wheeled out. The thought that anyone would be
deliberately starved to death was unbearable!
Terri's feeding tube was removed and no one was allowed to give her anything
to eat or drink. Since 2003 I receive my nourishment in the same way. I depend
entirely on others pushing life-sustaining substances into the tube through to the
stomach. If they cease, I shall cease too.
Pro-lifers pointed out that Terri was not on a life-support system,
she just needed food like anyone else. What about me? For years now I am connected to the
ventilator 24 hours a day.
I took note of the fact that when Pope John Paul ll received a tracheotomy
to relieve his breathing problems questions arose in some quarters about the ethics
of 'prolonging his life artificially'. Would such people find fault with the fact that in
May 2004 after I was resuscitated since my lung had collapsed I landed on the
operation table and got fitted with a trachea? So, am I overstaying my welcome on earth?
Bringing the financial aspect into the discussion is indeed very sensitive.
Whether in hospital or at home I remain an intensive care patient and upkeep costs
are very high. Medical bills are digging deeply into the insurance company's coffers.
My family and friends also have many sacrifices to make. Too many maybe? I dare not take
all this for granted.
On the other hand, how would I feel if those close to me were considering
expediting my exit? In Terri's case her husband, Michael, wanted to put an end to her
life. He used the runaway USA judiciary system to fight her parents, Governor Jeb
Bush, the Florida legislature, President George Bush and Congress to get his way. In the
end he won. Or did he?
A question that was frequently asked was in that state of serious brain
damage would Terri have wanted to live or die. Shall we ever know? But with her
husband breathing death over her did she have a choice?
If I was in Terri's situation what would I want? Would I applaud the
'merciful' act of those who starved me to death?
In the five years of living with Motor Neuron Disease I have gone through
numerous moments when the situation seemed impossible; times when I asked myself 'Could it
be worse than this?' Self-pity and even self-destruction are real temptations then, but I
remain unshaken in my belief that God is the Giver of life. He gives it. He takes
it. So, the crux of the matter is not what I, but what He would want.
Do our increasingly secular societies have room for God's perspective on
issues affecting earthlings? After all, who understands the creation more than the
Creator!
It is my hope that President George Bush's remarks in his reaction to
Terri's death will make sense even to the senseless.
"The essence of civilization
is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak. In cases where there are serious
doubts and questions, the presumption should be in the favor of life."
My defense of life is not motivated by fear of death. By grace, I belong to
the One who conquered death and the grave. He has thankfully prepared a place for me in
His heavenly mansions. But why should my entrance into glory leave some people with
bloodstains on their hands and consciences?
That would indeed be terri-ble!
"My times are in thy
hand" (Psalms 31:15)
And that is the best for me.
