BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

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The Story of My Twins and How it Relates to Terri Schiavo

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Mary

Dear Folks,

Some of you may see me as a heartless bastard in speaking out to let Terri Schiavo pass on to where God will show her the ultimate mercy. But, that is not the case. You see, I know, all too well, what it is like to have a child on life support.

During my first pregnancy, I was carrying twins. One was thought to be a non-viable baby, something for which I was prepared. What was not told to me is that he would continue to grow, endangering the viable twin's life.

One day in the eighth month of my pregnancy, I told my prenatal care clinic (at a Catholic hospital) that I was not feeling any movement from the viable baby. They sent me home and told me to come back that night for a biophysical sonogram. Well, in that time, while home, I ate. I would not have done so had I known I would be going through an emergency C-section that night.

When I went back to the hospital and took the test, the doctors knew I would be delivering a non-viable baby who was deformed. I was taken immediately for an emergency C-section. When they sedated me for the procedure, I threw up and could have died. My point is that this Catholic hospital should not have sent me home. Period.

I then had to watch -- for three agonizing days -- my little son Sean attached to feeding and other tubes. It is not easy seeing your son in such a state. But, I prayed to God with all my might to take him, since doctors gave little hope for him and they did not see for him a good quality of life.

I paid attention to what the doctors were saying, since they have gone through many years of medical training and their Hippocratic Oath states, "First do no harm." Had any politician stepped in telling me that I could not remove any tubes from my son, I would have been pissed as hell.

Had my son lived, he would have possibly faced dialysis and would have been brain damaged. Where would have been his quality of life? Who would have helped me pay for his medical costs? Medicaid, who was helping me at that time, would have cut me off at some point.

Thankfully, God took him.

So, I know both sides of this horrific issue facing Terri’s parents and her husband. One part of you wants to fight for your child’s life and the other part of you wants to plead with God to show your child mercy and to take them back to Heaven. God listened to me when I said to my son Sean that it was okay to let go and go back to Heaven from where he came. In that moment, there was clarity in Sean’s eyes as he looked upon me. He went that night.

By the way, I had to bury, along with his brother, the deformed non-viable twin. I gave him the name Scott. I never saw what Scott looked like, but was told he was an identical twin. They are still talking of my case in the annals of medical teachings.

My point is this, let the doctors make the decisions and keep the politicians out. Politicians have their agendas and something to prove to the American public, where doctors have the best interest of their patients at heart. Doctors have gone through many years of medical training -- have these unfeeling and selfish politicians?

On a side note and a happy note, I went on to have two healthy children who are looked over by their big brothers in Heaven. So, when people ask me how many children I have, I say, "Four -- two God gave me to raise and two God is holding in His arms for the rest of eternity." When I get to Heaven, Sean and Scott will be there to greet me and that gives me comfort.

Regards,

Mary!

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION