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Interview With Bob Schindler

Aired October 15, 2003 - 14:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A Florida family has feuded for years over the fate of Terri Schiavo. The 39-year-old woman has been in a coma-like state since here 1990 heart attack. The final steps that will end her life begin at this hour. The story from CNN's John Zarella. He's live ion Pinellas Park, Florida. Hi, John.
JOHN ZARELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Kyra. Well no confirmation as to inside the hospice as to whether the feeding tube has been removed. It was to have happened about 22 minutes ago. Of course, this is not an instantaneous process. Once the tube is removed, it could be up to two weeks before Terri Schiavo expires.

She has of course been in a coma-like state for the past 13 years since heart failure when she was 26-years-old. Her husband has been fighting to have her removed from the feeding tube. They have gone through all of the legal wrangling, state and federal court. the U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts refusing to hear the cases. And now finally, at long last the feeding tube has apparently been removed.

Terri Schiavo's mother was allowed to go in just a few minutes ago to see her daughter. And that had to be arranged with Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, who said they must have somebody present when they go to visit their daughter. And apparently that was arranged at the last minute. Don't know if she got in there before the feeding tube was removed.

But Michael Schiavo was also there, although he said through his attorney that he would not be in the room when the feeding tube was removed.

Now joining us is Bob Schindler. This is Terri's father. Bob, right now, how do you feel? Your wife is inside. Just tell us your thoughts, what's going through your mind, the support you have here and how you feel.

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI'S FATHER: It's overwhelming. And it's so emotional. I mean -- I think the people -- my tears are close to my heart. When I see this many people and hear the stories of other people that are having problems with their children and loved ones, it's just unbelievable.

ZARELLA: A little while ago, a couple hours ago you and your wife and family members were able to go and see Governor Jeb Bush who was in the area, who supports your cause.

SCHINDLER: Yes. ZARELLA: Did the governor give you any cause to believe that there's some way he could intercede or intervene here in the 11th hour?

SCHINDLER: The best answer I can give you is that we felt a lot better when we left the interview with him. We were with him for about half an hour. And he's a fine, fine man. And he has high integrity and I have confidence in him.

ZARELLA: It's not like something has to be done immediately now because your daughter can exist without the feeding tube, correct, for a few days?

SCHINDLER: Last time she went 60 hours and there was no damage. And so we have time. It really -- the support we're getting, I have confidence that something will happen.

ZARELLA: Bob, thank you very much. I know you'd like to in, hopefully, to see his daughter as well. They're working on those arrangements for Terri's father to get in to see her.

Again, no confirmation, yet, Kyra. But we do believe that the feeding tube has been removed within the last 30 minutes or so -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John, I know this is not going to do any good bringing this up, but we're curious. Miles and I were talking about, why can't the parents just take her home and care for her and take over this equipment and do it themselves?

ZARELLA: Because according to the Florida law and according to the way the Florida courts have ruled, her husband is the one who has custody and her husband is the one who makes the decision in her life regarding what happens with her.

And he has said that he -- that her wishes were that she not live like this. Even though she never had a living will, that's what he has maintained throughout the entire -- more than a decade-long court proceedings -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Either way you look at it, it's a tough story to cover. Our John Zarella, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 15, 2003 - 14:23   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A Florida family has feuded for years over the fate of Terri Schiavo. The 39-year-old woman has been in a coma-like state since here 1990 heart attack. The final steps that will end her life begin at this hour. The story from CNN's John Zarella. He's live ion Pinellas Park, Florida. Hi, John.
JOHN ZARELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Kyra. Well no confirmation as to inside the hospice as to whether the feeding tube has been removed. It was to have happened about 22 minutes ago. Of course, this is not an instantaneous process. Once the tube is removed, it could be up to two weeks before Terri Schiavo expires.

She has of course been in a coma-like state for the past 13 years since heart failure when she was 26-years-old. Her husband has been fighting to have her removed from the feeding tube. They have gone through all of the legal wrangling, state and federal court. the U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts refusing to hear the cases. And now finally, at long last the feeding tube has apparently been removed.

Terri Schiavo's mother was allowed to go in just a few minutes ago to see her daughter. And that had to be arranged with Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, who said they must have somebody present when they go to visit their daughter. And apparently that was arranged at the last minute. Don't know if she got in there before the feeding tube was removed.

But Michael Schiavo was also there, although he said through his attorney that he would not be in the room when the feeding tube was removed.

Now joining us is Bob Schindler. This is Terri's father. Bob, right now, how do you feel? Your wife is inside. Just tell us your thoughts, what's going through your mind, the support you have here and how you feel.

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI'S FATHER: It's overwhelming. And it's so emotional. I mean -- I think the people -- my tears are close to my heart. When I see this many people and hear the stories of other people that are having problems with their children and loved ones, it's just unbelievable.

ZARELLA: A little while ago, a couple hours ago you and your wife and family members were able to go and see Governor Jeb Bush who was in the area, who supports your cause.

SCHINDLER: Yes. ZARELLA: Did the governor give you any cause to believe that there's some way he could intercede or intervene here in the 11th hour?

SCHINDLER: The best answer I can give you is that we felt a lot better when we left the interview with him. We were with him for about half an hour. And he's a fine, fine man. And he has high integrity and I have confidence in him.

ZARELLA: It's not like something has to be done immediately now because your daughter can exist without the feeding tube, correct, for a few days?

SCHINDLER: Last time she went 60 hours and there was no damage. And so we have time. It really -- the support we're getting, I have confidence that something will happen.

ZARELLA: Bob, thank you very much. I know you'd like to in, hopefully, to see his daughter as well. They're working on those arrangements for Terri's father to get in to see her.

Again, no confirmation, yet, Kyra. But we do believe that the feeding tube has been removed within the last 30 minutes or so -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John, I know this is not going to do any good bringing this up, but we're curious. Miles and I were talking about, why can't the parents just take her home and care for her and take over this equipment and do it themselves?

ZARELLA: Because according to the Florida law and according to the way the Florida courts have ruled, her husband is the one who has custody and her husband is the one who makes the decision in her life regarding what happens with her.

And he has said that he -- that her wishes were that she not live like this. Even though she never had a living will, that's what he has maintained throughout the entire -- more than a decade-long court proceedings -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Either way you look at it, it's a tough story to cover. Our John Zarella, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com