Terri(Schindler) Schiavo passed over today. I was cleaning my basement, listening to the radio, and heard the news minutes after she died- around 9:30 EST this morning.
Finally, the poor woman can regain her dignity in death.
I feel embarrassed for her because the media circus should never have occured. I feel embarressed that the US Government became involved in the whole issue. I feel embarrassed that this woman's final days leave people with the memories of what many have called a "vegetable."
But, I am angry too. Not one person addressed the reason that Terri was in this condition in the first place. Shame on the health care professionals for not using this opportunity to speak up regarding EATING DISORDERS and the possible tragic results that will occur if the condition is untreated.
This afternoon one of her former lawyers, interviewed by Shawn Hannity, adamantly insisted that Terri did not ever have an eating disorder. I sincerely hope that this is the truth. If not, her death was not in vain. We have learned the importance of a living will, the dedication of family, and the strength of faith. If so, it is awful to imagine that her case could have, once again, shed light on this condition. When the world lost the beautiful sound of Karen Carpenter's voice to Annorexia Nervosa, in 1982, her family choose to disclose her struggle with Annorexia. Most of the world had little to no knowledge regarding this condition. Eating disorders were not even in the news in those days. Little was even kown by the medical society regarding how to "cure" this disease. The list of famous "victims" has lenthened and many women have disclosed their own struggles about their battle with the terrible mind games this disorder brings onto its unassuming victims: Debbi Boone, Tracey Gold, Lady Dianna, etc.
Most often, the desire for control, perfection, and to fit the popular media standard of beauty, young women take those first innocent steps into the hell that is called annorexia, bulimia, annorexia/bulimia-eating disorders. What begins as an innocent concept takes hold of every waking moment of these women's lives and, ironically, eats away at their esteem and sense of self to the point where death is often an almost welcome end to a means, just to end the constant pressure that they place on themselves.
Terri, my prayers are with you- may you find peace now.
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