An Open Letter from Bobby Schindler

An Open Letter from Bobby Schindler

Editor's note. Virtually all readers of NRL News are painfully aware that Terri Schindler Schiavo died March 31, 2005, nearly 14 days after her husband secured permission for the third time to disconnect her feeding tube. The following open letter is written to the friends and supporters of the Schindler family by Terri's brother, Bobby.

To Our Dear Friends and Faithful Supporters,

It has been almost one year since my sister Terri's unnatural and untimely death. My family is still grieving our great loss. But we have decided to carry her legacy of life and love forward so that her sacrifice will not have been in vain, and that others may avoid the same terrible fate.

Throughout the entire history of mankind, never was it held that food and water constituted "medical care." Sadly, our nation now claims food and water to be "medical treatment" instead of ordinary care, to facilitate their removal from persons deemed by the medical industry or the courts as "unworthy of life" primarily for economic reasons. Persons like Terri, with injuries and disabilities, are seen as not being worthy of life, not worth the investment.

For reasons like this my family will be continuing to run Terri's Foundation, officially named The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation. Originally created to protect the life of my sister, it has been restructured as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, dedicated to ensuring the rights of disabled, elderly and vulnerable citizens in order to help others avoid future tragedies that reflect what Terri endured.

My parents, Robert and Mary, and sister, Suzanne, are all working for the Foundation which will advocate for persons in danger of being killed because they have been deemed "unworthy of life."

As its mission grows, the Foundation will need the continued support of many individuals willing to give of their time and talents. Please consider joining us in this all-important effort to defend human life.

My family will also be releasing a book on March 28, titled A Life That Matters, marking the one-year anniversary of Terri's death. This will be my family's story not only of the fifteen years Terri struggled to stay alive, but of Terri's childhood and how much my sister brought happiness to everyone she touched.

More importantly however, is how our book will tell the heart-wrenching story where my family wanted nothing more than to love and care for Terri as long as she could live.

No words can adequately express how grateful we are to every one of you who fought so valiantly to help us try to save the life of my sister, Terri. Please accept my family's most heartfelt thanks for your support, prayers and acts of kindness for Terri and my family. We are forever grateful to you.

Please visit Terri's website at www.terrisfight.org for all information and reports about how and where we are working to tell Terri's story and to spread the word about the vital importance and value of human life.

Once again, thank you for your past support. We look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. Until then, may God bless you and give you peace.

Most Sincerely,
Bobby Schindler