NRLC State Organization and Development Director Jacki Ragan says, “This story is one that pro-lifers ought to review once a year.” 
The NRLC review of the documentary goes on to say, “The DVD does an excellent job summarizing Terri’s life and the titanic legal struggle
that eventually broke out between the Schindlers and Terri’s husband…even for the viewer who only casually watches The Terri Schiavo Story, it is clear just how unjust was the death sentence meted out to Terri.”

Four years after her death, the ethical and cultural implications of Terri’s case are still being felt throughout society and continue to spark debate.  Just last year during the Democratic debates, President Obama said one of his “regrets” as a Senator was voting for Congress to intervene to save Terri’s life.  Hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became personally involved in the case in 2005,
The Terri Schiavo Story sheds new light on the controversial decision that led to the death of a 41-year-old disabled woman. 

In 1990, at the age of 26, Terri Schindler Schiavo suffered a mysterious cardio-respiratory arrest for which no cause has ever been
determined. She was diagnosed with hypoxic encephalopathy - a neurological injury caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Terri was
placed on a ventilator, but was soon able to breathe on her own and maintain vital function. She remained in a severely compromised neurological state and was provided a PEG tube to ensure the safe delivery of nourishment and hydration. On March 31, 2005,
Terri Schindler Schiavo died of marked dehydration following more than 13 days without nutrition or hydration under the order of
Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer of the Pinellas-Pasco's Sixth Judicial Court.

So what did the mainstream media overlook? Several things, according to the film’s producer and director Ken Carpenter.  “I think most people thought Terri was in a vegetative state with no prospects of improving,” says Carpenter.  “The truth is, the doctors believed Terri was a candidate for rehabilitation, but her treatment was withheld.  Additionally, we uncovered that only one judge ruled on the facts of the case.  All the other judges looked at procedure issues and not the original facts. Working on this project made clear to me that we need to keep Terri's story alive.  Our children need to know where the lines were drawn when our government and court system let
Terri die.”

Joni Eareckson Tada, herself disabled after a diving accident which left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and unable to use her hands, says what happened to Terri continues to affect disabled citizens.  "The story remains relevant because there are countless people like Terri Schiavo whose lives are in grave danger because of unclear custody and guardianship laws," says Tada. "Plus, more states (under futile care policy directives) are quietly removing the feeding tubes from brain-injured people when families abandon their responsibilities.  Feeding tubes are providing basic care, not medical treatment."

Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, was interviewed at length in the documentary and is now involved in helping families in similar
circumstances through The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.  Schindler believes the truth about his sister's death has been distorted and hidden - until now.

"Our hope is that people will learn the truth about what happened to Terri," says Schindler, "and realize the atrocity that it was and
that anyone who claims that her death was 'peaceful' and 'painless' is lying. It is because of the truly inhumane nature of death by
dehydration that when people are killed this way it is always done behind closed doors in the strictest secrecy. I wholeheartedly
believe that if the public had been allowed to witness Terri's suffering first hand, the outcry would have deafened Florida and the world."

Tada was on the front lines with Terri's family in 2005, helping lead the protests that eventually landed in the halls of the U.S. Congress.
"I hope that people understand that Terri Schiavo's story is really our story," says Tada. "We have a special obligation to protect the
weak and vulnerable in our society.  We have a responsibility to uphold their human dignity -- because we are of equal dignity, we
are not at each other's disposal.  The weak and the vulnerable need their rights safeguarded and protected... we must not allow them
to become eroded.  For when we do, we are jeopardizing the rights of us all."

Originally produced as an episode for the Joni & Friends television series, Franklin Springs Family Media felt the story was compelling
enough to produce as a stand-alone project. Their decision was recently justified when The Terri Schiavo Story won the Jubliee Award
for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. 

The mission of the Dove Foundation is to encourage and promote the creation, production, distribution and consumption of wholesome family entertainment. Their "Family-Approved" seal began being used on home movies in 2005.  The foundation has been in existence since 1990. For more information on The Dove Foundation, visit: www.Dove.org. 

For more information on National Right to Life, visit: www.NRLC.org.  To view a trailer for the new documentary, visit: www.TheSchiavoStory.com. For more information on Franklin Springs Media, visit: www.FranklinSprings.com.
###