"I want everyone to know that Julie had such a purpose and now we know what that purpose was." Julie's mother Donna Joseph believes that purpose was to show that life is to be lived every day like it's your last. Julie lived large. She was the first smile you saw when you walked into a room and she was the one who made you not want to leave.Julie's life meant more than anything to her family. Her husband of 14 years grieves today at his lost. He wonders how he can raise his children without his wife. When Julie collapsed two years ago, he now knows that what followed was "in preparation for what was to be. I miss her every day, every day." What happened to Julie?
She had an arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. She had them from time to time but was on medication. She knew when she got into her 40's or so she would have to have a valve replaced. But on this afternoon she collapsed and aspirated. Her lungs collapsed and she went without air for ten minutes. "As parents you do anything in your power you try anything to help them recover." Julie suffered brain damage and was on a feeding tube for two years. Her family said Julie responded to her family and laughed at the television. She even cried when her infant niece was placed into her arms for the first time. That signature smile of Julie's was on her face every morning and every night. It was proof that that the Julie they knew was still there.
Yes, if anyone knows what Terri Schiavo's family is going through, it is Julie's family. But there was no one trying to end Julie's life. No one anxious for her to die so they could move on. This family realized that Julie still had a purpose. Her life was still worth living. And they never gave up.
Julie had therapy four times a day. Her family used every means they could find. Her parents quit their jobs and cared for her at home. All the while her family never even considered removing Julie's feeding tube. Her husband Ronnie, allowed her parents to make the medical decision and they all agreed where they would draw the line. "With regard to the feeding tube it may be a form of life support but in all of our eyes it was an acceptable form of life support. The respirator no, that's going a little too far." Two years after she collapsed Julie developed an infection. Julie's mom said that's it was too powerful to stop. "Once the infection took over and her organs were failing and her lungs failed. We knew there was no way she would ever be able to live without a respirator.""The day of passing there must have been 50 or 60 of us we all got to say good bye and it was the best thing for her."
Terri's husband Michael has fought hard to have her executed. All Terri Schiavo has done is refused to die. Terri refused to let go, and Michael is determined to punish her for that. Julie's family knows that for the two years that Julie lived after her initial collapse was a gift. A blessing, no matter if Julie wasn't the same as she had been. She was still a wife, a mother, a daughter and a soul. It is a shame that Michael Schiavo couldn't see the gift he has been given by this time with his wife. It is a shame that Michael Schiavo has determined she should die. It is a shame that our judicial system would allow it.
And It would be a shame if we did nothing about it. Go to BlogsforTerri. Do whatever you can. Terri's life is worth it, just like Julie's.