I was going to post this in the previous Diary by Disunion but I was hoping to get it out to a bit of a wider audience. I'm not a doctor (yet) but I have had a couple courses in neurology and so understand how the brain works and the significance of CAT scans. Below the fold are one of Terri's CAT scans and one from what I believe is a normal person.
Here is a CAT scan of Terri's brain
Here is a CAT scan of a normal brain
I think we can all appreciate the difference. What was once Terri IS NO LONGER THERE. A good 30-40% of her brain has been replaced by fluid and is not coming back.
The debate we are having is the equivalent of telling an amputee that there is a chance there leg will grow back. It's not possible to do that. And even if we could use stem cells to regrow neurons in the brain and give her functionality, that person would not be Terri because we are defined by the networks that are establish as we grow.
Some other Pet Peeves of mine:
Michael only moved on after a decade. I can think of many congresspeople who were less faithful to their living wives.
Michael has some of the top neurologists in Florida on his side. Terri's parents have doctors struggling to hold on to their liscences and Herbalists, many of whom have not diagnosed Terri.
The "Videos" of Terri are 10 minute segments that have been cobbled together from hundreds of hours of video footage. Given that much footage I can get 10 minutes of footage portraying Delay as an Honest politician, but that doesn't make it true.
In closing, I grieve for everyone involved, but let's let this woman's body who died 15 years ago go with a little peace and dignity.