A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo--A Lesson for Us All

by Mary Schindler, Bobby Schindler, Suzanne Schindler, et al.

Book Overview

Faced with the unspeakable possibility of losing a loved one, the parents and siblings of Terri Schiavo were thrust into the international spotlight during their desperate attempt to preserve a life they valued as deeply as they did their own. Now the Schindlers share their love and their sorrow, their joy and their pain, and stunning revelations as they celebrate Terri's life, mourn her death, and tell the whole story of the woman and the battle...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446579874
• ISBN13: 9780446579872
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 251 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A Captivating Testimony of Love and Compassion

In today's world, the culture of death is continuously growing stronger in its influence on the media and the way we think. They try to convince everyone that the disabled should be killed--that they are "better off dead," "vegetables," and "not worthy of life." When we think of such arguments, the most recent case that comes to mind is the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo, a disabled woman that, due to an activist judge and her adulterous husband, was cruelly dehydrated to death for two weeks, and was denied the right that should have been undeniable to her: the right to life. The culture of death ever since has labelled Terri's death as "a blessing" and "heroism." Even when Terri's autopsy showed that her collapse was not caused by a heart attack or bulimia, the culture of death has automatically concluded that "Saint Michael Schiavo is always right," and that Terri had been "PVS and dead for fifteen years" and a "burden on society." (Despite the fact that a persistent vegetative state cannot be diagnosed by an autopsy, and the immense brain damage seen during the autopsy could have easily been caused by Terri's extended dehydration period.) The Schindlers, Terri's family, were labelled as "freaks" and "evil bigots." However, that did not stop them from coming out and putting down their difficult story in words, so that people in conditions similar to and even worse than Terri's will be spared the fate that their beloved daughter and sister was sentenced to, and instead be loved, cared for, and treated by their family until their natural death. "A Life That Matters" is the heart-wrenching and emotional side of a story about Terri Schindler-Schiavo's fight and eventual loss for life, written by her family that was criminalized by the culture of death simply because they wished to love and care for her. It includes the testimonies of Terri's family and friends--the people who knew her best--who come out and praise the life she led as a beautiful young woman, a beloved daughter, sister, and friend. The testimonies shared in the book also bring strong evidence against Michael Schiavo's claims that it was "Terri's wish" to die and the fabricated fairy-tale marriage that he claims to have had with her. I would recommend this book to anyone that believes the disabled deserve life and loving care, not death, and also to those who are on the fence about the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo and other disabled persons--this book may change the very way you think!

Anti-murder manifesto

Terri Schiavo's life and tragic, horrific death by dehydration changed the world as millions of people watched the efforts of her estranged husband to legally murder her. My husband and I certainly watched it. I never would've guessed that a little over a year later, I would be facing a situation that was the worst I'd ever been through - and in many ways, strikingly similar. Suffice it to say that my husband is ALIVE and recovering in a prolife hospital, and only because of the most desperate tactics I could muster to save him from a doctor and hospital who committed gross mistakes, then tried to cover them up by disconnecting his life support and saying he told them he "wanted to die." The fact that my husband and I had discussed in excruciating detail what we both wanted done if we were in a similar situation didn't deter the butcher shop masquerading as a hospital from trying to force DEATH on him. Why? Well, because they made a mistake, and if he died, they could say the "cancer" of which he is cured killed him - not their gross negligence. Yes, this really happens in America. I bet you never knew a doctor or medical ethics committee can invalidate your living will, IF your living will says that you want to LIVE. We're in a brave new world where imperfect people are disposable. Where you can murder helpless human beings by starving and dehydrating them to death, although any human being deprived of food and water WILL die (gee, even Michael Schiavo, although God knows he's got enough fat to live off for years.) The idea that a human being who isn't 100 percent doesn't have a "quality of life" is the biggest load of horse manure to be forced on society from the Death Cultists. How utterly arrogant! How hopelessly stupid! How about if the Death Cultists just follow their own advice and commit suicide? They're so grimly determined to shove everyone else six feet under that they should just cut to the chase and show us how it's done by practicing it themselves. I'd be happy to help. :)

The truth the media failed to mention

"A Life That Matters" gives great insight to the Terri Schiavo case giving details that the media choose to omit. I think the bottom line, regardless of your view on euthanasia, is that here is a family that just wanted to take care of their daughter. The fight they had to endure and the unbelievable injustice system they had to face and ultimately lost to in the end should be a scary wake up call to the rest of us.

A Tragic Family Drama Beautifully Told

All the media preconceptions about the Schindler family dissolved when I read this incredibly tragic and well- written book about this loving families' struggle to keep Terri alive. Instead of political zealots, I met a loving, devoted, intensely private family dedicated to keeping their beloved Terri cared for, despite her husband's crusade to end her life. This is an important book to read for those who want to know the real story about Terri and it certainly raises many questions. The inspiring thing about this family is that they are dedicating their lives and the profits from this book to the Terri Shiavo/Schindler Foundation. It will fight for the disabled and for all the voiceless people like Terri, who can't fight for themselves. They are deeply spiritual people and caring people. Highly reccommended.

Honor Terri & read this book

You need to read this book. All personal, political and religious beliefs aside, this is a story about one family's relentless battle to save someone they loved deeply. Whether you support the Schindler's or not, I am certain you will not be disappointed. Very candidly, this family allows readers a glimpse into their lives as they walk you through the past 15 years and explain the emotional toll it took on each of them. They also paint a picture of what Terri was like -- the real Terri, the one we never knew -- her personality, her strengths, her shortcomings. There are things in this book that will amaze you... things we on the outside never knew or saw through the media. You won't regret reading it, I promise.