The AP reports that a priest who visited Terri Schiavo and her parents over the weekend say her parents are "dealing with reality" as their daughter nears death. I don't think so.
In fact, I think it's the Schindler's failure to deal with reality that has exacerbated this entire situation. Their daughter has been essentially brain dead for 15-odd years now. She's not cognizant. She's not aware of what's going on around her. She's not coming back. Their clinging onto hope that she might miraculously snap out of it has gone beyond futile to pathetic.
I ought to have more sympathy for Ms. Schiavo's parents, but at some point you just have to recognize reality and deal with the situation. The Schindlers are not dealing with it. That's the problem. (Along with opportunistic pro-lifers and politicians, of course.) Hundreds of thousands of others have faced the same situation of letting a loved one die, and have dealt with it -- compassionately and privately. The Schindlers would earn more respect by doing the same. Their daughter left them a long time ago. It's time to accept that and move on.
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