By: Amanda Kaufmann

•Theresa Schindler was born on December 3rd, 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she married her husband, Michael Schiavo, they moved to Florida. On February 25, 1990, Terri collapsed in her Florida home from an “ice tea diet” which was related to her bulimia that was the result

of a potassium deficiency.

• Due to the potassium deficiency, Terri had tremendous brain damage. This brain damage was permanent and made Terri go into a vegetative state for the last fifteen years of her life. Doctors said that there was no chance that she would return to normal someday, and the controversy to keep her on life support would begin…

• Michael Schiavo stated that Terri’s wish was to be taken off life support because she did not want to live her life on machines that would keep her alive. Due to her wishes, he wanted the feeding tube to be removed which would cause Terri to die of malnutrition and dehydration. Her parents, did not want this, and wanted to keep their daughter alive no matter what.

• Bob and Mary Schindler brought the issue to Florida courts many times, but every time they ruled that it was Michael Schiavo’s decision . Bob and Mary would not accept the verdict and they kept on fighting to keep their daughter alive.

• On April 24, 2001 Terri’s feeding tube was removed for the first time, but then it was reinserted on April 26 after the Schindler’s protested. The court made the Schindler’s hire two doctors, Michael Schiavo hire two doctors, and the court hire one to examine Terri’s medical records, brain scans, and Terri. Three of the doctors claimed that Terri was in a vegetative state, and two of the other doctors claimed that she was in a minimally conscious state.

• In 2003, the Schindler’s began to involve the public in their battle. On October 15, 2003, Terri’s feeding tube was removed for the second time. Within a week, Florida legislatures passed “Terri’s Law”, giving the governor, Jeb Bush authority to intervene in the case. He ordered to have Terri’s feeding tube reinserted once again. “Terri’s Law” was found unconstitutional. On March 18, 2005, the removal of Terri’s feeding tube was attempted, but it was postponed.

• On March 26, 2005, Bob and Mary Schindler declared that their legal options had be exhausted. On March 31, 2005, Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube had been removed for the last time and she had passed away.

• Many people around the world had taken a part in this argument. Many people were on the Schindler’s side to fight for Terri’s life. People even offered money to Michael Schiavo to walk away from this case, but he rejected the money. Many pro-life groups and disability-rights groups protested for the life of Terri Schiavo. Even people who were on Michael Schiavo’s side voiced their opinion. Millions of people, either on Michael Schiavo’s side or the Schindler’s side listened and waited for the developments in this great drama.