"Down to Her Last Hours"

"The information that was presented last night to the federal judge in Tampa was very strong … and we're encouraging these [appellate] judges when they review the appeal to make a right decision," Bob Schindler told reporters Friday just before noon EST.

"We've had some of the best legal minds in the country working on this and it always seems we're losing in court. It's not because we have poor attorneys, alright. They're offering sound, legal motions. But we haven't been very successful. But I do think that what was presented last night in the federal court is very, very viable and we're encouraging the appellate court to take a hard look at this thing and do the right thing."

The tube was removed a week ago on a state judge's order that agreed with her husband, who has said she has no hope for recovery and wouldn't want to be kept alive artificially. The Schindlers believe their daughter could improve and wouldn't want to die.

As of Friday morning, Terri Schiavo, 41, had been without food or water for almost seven days and was showing signs of dehydration -- flaky skin, dry tongue and lips, and sunken eyes, according to attorneys and friends of the Schindlers. Doctors have said she would probably die within a week or two of the tube being pulled.

"Terri is weakening," Bob Schindler said Friday morning after visiting Terri in the hospice. "She's down to her last hours so something has to be done and it has to be done quick."