- A certified nursing assistant who cared for Terri Schiavo
in 1997 filed a sworn affidavit in the case stating that she was able to
feed Schiavo normally on multiple occasions - but that husband Michael
Schiavo would only allow a feeding tube.
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- Heidi Law, a CNA at the Palm Gardens nursing home, testified:
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- "At least three times during any shift where I took
care of Terri, I made sure to give Terri a wet washcloth filled with ice
chips, to keep her mouth moistened. I personally saw her swallow the ice
water and never saw her gag.
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- "[Another CNA] and I frequently put orange juice
or apple juice in her washcloth to give her something nice to taste, which
made her happy. On three or four occasions I personally fed Terri small
mouthfuls of Jello, which she was able to swallow and enjoyed immensely."
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- Law testified that the only reason she didn't attempt
to feed Ms. Schiavo more frequently was "because I was so afraid of
being caught by Michael."
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- Editorializing on the case in light of Law's account,
the Pittsburgh Post Gazette said Sunday: "It is one thing to withdraw
a feeding tube; another entirely to withhold that day's meal tray."
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- Carla Sauer Iyer was a registered nurse at the same facility.
In her own affidavit Iyer testified that Ms. Schiavo was capable of speech,
explaining, "[Terri] spoke on a regular basis, saying such things
as 'Mommy' and 'help me.'"
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- When she put a washcloth in Terri's hands to keep her
fingers from curling together, Iyer said, "Michael saw it and made
me take it out, saying that was therapy" that he had forbidden.
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- "Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo
was focused on Terri's death," the RN noted. "Michael would say
'When is she going to die?' 'Has she died yet?' and 'When is that bitch
gonna die?'
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