Terri Schiavo’s Family: We Will Never Forget You

Bioethics | Steven Ertelt | Mar 31, 2005 | 9:00AM | WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo’s Family: We Will Never Forget You

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 31, 2005

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) — With six courts refusing to stop Terri Schiavo’s painful starvation death, her parents and family knew that eventually the woman they loved would pass away. On Thursday, Terri’s family spoke about their daughter and sister.

At the press conference, Terri’s brother Bobby Schindler and her sister, Suzanne Vitadamo told Terri’s supporters not to be angry and asked God’s forgiveness for anything the Schindler family had done during the seven year legal battle that "did not honor our faith."

The Schinders had a message for Terri as well.

"As a member of our family unable to speak for yourself, you spoke loudly," they said. "Terri, we love you dearly, but we know that God loves you more than we do. We must accept your untimely death as God’s will."

The Schindlers said that Terri death had a greater purpose — that of increasing awareness about how society takes care of disabled Americans.

"Terri, your life and legacy will continue to live on, as the nation is now awakened to the plight of thousands of voiceless people with disabilities that were previously unnoticed," they said.

Bob Schindler also thanked the hundreds of supporters who gathered outside Terri’s hospice, in front of courts, at the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee and in Washington. The spoke words of appreciation for the doctors willing to testify on Terri’s behalf and attorneys who fought legal battles time and time again.

"Thank you for all that you’ve done for our family," the Schindlers said.

"We’ll never forget you all. Thank you so, so much. And Terri thanks you, too," Bob Schindler said.

Terri’s family seemed at ease about Terri’s death, despite the very difficult circumstances preceding it.

Vitadamo, said that "after these recent years of neglect at the hands of those who were supposed to protect and care for her, she is finally at peace with God for eternity."

Terri’s brother and sister also reminisced about their sister they loved.

"We know that many of you never had the privilege to personally know our wonderful sister, Terri, but we assure you that you can be proud of this remarkable woman who has captured the attention of the world," the Schindlers said.

”She was a wonderful sister,” said Bobby Schindler. "I wouldn’t have asked for anything else.” He said she stood tall with a certain "grace and dignity."

”She was just not a serious person,” Suzanne added. "She was just a happy girl.”

Bobby said the Schindler family would help other family members seeking to protect "other Terris" and to fight for the rights of the disabled.

"[W]e will do all that we can to change the law so others won’t face the same fate that has befallen you," Schindler said.