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Schindlers Appeal to Supreme Court

Wednesday, March 30, 2005
By Jane Roh

The parents of a severely brain-damaged woman filed an emergency stay with the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday night, hours after a federal appeals court once again declined to hold another hearing on whether to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.

The Supreme Court has declined to intervene five times.

Schiavo was on her 13th day without nutrients or water. A court ruling had allowed her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo, to order the tube that had kept her alive for 15 years removed.

Appearing with the woman's family, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said as long as it was possible to restore food and water, Schiavo's loved ones should not give up hope.

"We ask God to sustain this family as they go through this gut-wrenching ordeal," Jackson said, surrounded by Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and her brother and sister. "We know that the innocent do suffer and that you need not be guilty to be crucified."

Jackson was with the Schindler family for a second day on Wednesday. The onetime Democratic presidential contender broke with many fellow liberals in pressing for the reinsertion of Schiavo's feeding tube.
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Let's be realistic. The Supreme Court will not intervene. The family's continued pursuit of justice for Terri is more symbolic than anything else at this point, since they have been slapped down at every turn.

Nonetheless, I admire the Schindler family's refusal to abandon Terri. It's clear that they are as determined as Terri herself. They simply will not give up.

As long as Terri is breathing, they will fight for her.

We should all be so blessed to have such loving parents and siblings.