Originally Posted - July 25, 2006

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When Linda Evans Shepherd's 18-year-old daughter was 18 months old, she was ejected from their car during a violent car crash. While Laura was still hospitalized, 27 health care professionals concurred that Laura was in a persistent vegetative state and that there was no hope for recovery. Their opinion was wrong.

Eleven months later, Laura's so-called "persistent vegetative state was raised to a state of awareness. Today, at the age of 18, she is much like Terri Schiavo, the disabled Florida woman died of marked dehydration after her feeding tube was removed by court order at the behest of her estranged husband who was living with another woman by whom he'd fathered two children.

Like Terri, Laura Shepherd makes the same movements and noises. "Laura's sounds and movements are not reflexes", Linda says, "In fact, through therapy, Laura has been trained to communicate her wishes through tongue signals. Laura, like other disabled people, has a purpose for it's not about ability, it's about love".

Linda, of Longmont, Co., was present for the recent press conference held by Michael Schiavo and Angie Paccione and wrote this letter to the editor to the Rocky Mountain News about her experience with Michael Schiavo and his rants about how U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave and other legislators had violated his privacy by trying to save Terri's life last March.

"I attended the Michael Schiavo/Angie Paccione press conference and listened as Schiavo ranted about how his privacy was violated by our government. He said he was Terri's family and the government had interfered with his family, his privacy and his wishes. When he finished his tirade, with congressional candidate Paccione by his side, I raised my hand and said, "I'm the mother of a handicapped child. What about Terri's mother and father--- weren't they her family too?"

"Schiavo turned his full attention on me and with angry passion told me Terri's parents had lost their rights to her when she married him. (In other words, she was his property to be disposed of.)

"After the press conference, I was interviewed by 9News. I was able to express deep sympathy for Terri's family and I was able to relate that other disabled people with brain damage are now afraid for their lives. (After all, Terri Schiavo was not dying until they quit feeding her.)

"9News ran the piece at 4 p.m., with my comments. Later, I received an e-mail, most likely from the Paccione camp, telling me "I was ridiculous."

"But I am not ridiculous. I am a real mother of a brain-damaged young adult daughter who is also a real person. I am a voice for those who have no voice. I have real worries about what will happen to the disabled when, like Michael Schiavo, society deems they are no longer convenient.

"Yes, as Schiavo says, Terri is at peace. But her passing was violent and premature. It was cruel. I grieve for Terri's family and I also grieve for any politician who would use Michael Schiavo as her spokesperson". 7-25-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette