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Paging Dr. Frist

Because I wrote about the whole Terry Schiavo thing previously, I figure I'll add my two cents in on today's story.

This is how it goes:

Them: We will not rest until the autopsy results come out. Then we will know EVERYTHING! It will all come out!

[Autopsy results are released]

Them: The autopsy is meaningless! It means NOTHING!
Parents: We don't believe the results

[Why?]

Conspiracy! Bribery! Money! Lies! Look, over there, it's Bill Frist!

I'll start taking wagers now on when Bill Frist apologizes.

I've got NEVER for 200, Alex.

More at Balloon Juice, WWR and Smijer

Update: Below is my further commentary (which is also posted in the comments, but not everyone reads all the comments and I thought I'd clarify a few things for the self absorbed people who assume that by "Sen. Frist" I meant THEM.

Hey, Dean? I didn't mention you, did I? I'm talking about a Senator who did an armchair analysis of Teri Schiavo, called it a professional medical opinion, then turned into a political cause, grandstanding his way through the whole circus. He is a United States Senator who made an absolute fool of the Senate with his antics. Yes, political antics.

How does this have anything to do with you, Dean? You post on your blog that I'm demanding an apology of YOU? No, I'm not. Stop seeing yourself in everything, Dean. This has nothing to do with you and it may come as a huge shock that I didn't even think about you when I wrote this post. I was thinking about Senator Frist. I never asked Teri's family and friends to apologize. Just Frist. So take your sanctimony and shove it.

Clark, here's why: When I blogged about this and explained in a very emotional and personal way why I felt the way I did, I was accused of being part of a culture of death. I was accused of wanting to murder someone just for political gain (with no explanation as to what that political gain was). I was accused of using Teri's plight to further my views on abortion (even though no one really knows what my views on abortion are) and I was accused of wanting to KILL a woman whose brain was working, who knew what was going on, who was cognizant of the world around her, who could follow a ball with her eyes. But she couldn't do any of those things, could she? My beliefs surrounding what should happen to Teri were born out of pure personal feeling and emotions and I made that very, very clear from the start. Yet I was called the most vile, vicous names. I was accused of horrible things because I wanted an aware, functional person (in their eyes) to die.

There were many, many people on both sides who used this to push a political or religious agenda. I'm not one of them.

I am not grandstanding or doing a victory dance over the autopsy. I am pointing out the sad fact that after all the waiting and all the talk about how the autopsy would prove everything once and for all, it has only furthered the ugliness with cries of bribery, conspiracy, etc. I didn't mention once in my post anything like "Yay, Teri's brain wasn't working, I was RIGHT!" I am angry at Frist for making such a remarkable jerk of himself while representing my country. That's it.

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» First and last Terry Schiavo post from Project Nothing!
As you already well know, it was reported today that Terry Schiavo’s brain was irreversably damaged. My position regarding the incident was this: Her husband did all he could to rehabilitate her but couldn’t, so if her parents wanted to ... [Read More]

» Schiavo Triumphalism from Dean's World

Some months ago I received mail from family members of Terri Schiavo asking for help. I looked at what they had to say, contemplated it for a while, and decided to follow my conscience; it did not appear that the justice system w...

[Read More]

Comments

Hey, this post isn't zombie-themed.

On second thought -- yeah, actually, it is.

know what? It doesn't matter what the autopsy shows. What matters is how much you love the person who is impaired. Don't begin to tell me that her husband loved her --------------ever.

Ever? How do you know this? What do you base this on? Do you have knowledge that even when they were first married he didn't love her?

My conclusion would be that being dehydrated twice, the second time to death, after not receiving therapeutic services for 1000-1,200 days might have some effect on my autopsy results

the fact that I'm typing this means that I'm a zombie, obviously, and one that's just fed on brains.

The parents won'tcan't accept the autopsy because it implies she might have had an eating disorder and brought the coma on herself. If they couldn't say goodbye after 15 years they will never accept that conclusion.

know what?

Chicken butt.

It doesn't matter what the autopsy shows.

Of course it does, at least to those with a rational interest in what it means to be a human being, what it means to have a life, and other such philosophical ponderings.

It also does as it shows just how wrong the "save Terri's half-brain" brigades were. That is, very.

What matters is how much you love the person who is impaired.

Legally speaking, no, it doesn't - not in the least.

Don't begin to tell me that her husband loved her --------------ever.

I don't presume to know, although their marriage would generally indicate otherwise.

Of course, unlike you, I'm not privy to the knowledge that he secretly married her in order to abuse her (very secretly and with great skill) such that she would collapse and have severe brain damage and then he could win awards of large sums of money that he would then spend on court battles and medical care.

Your psychic abilities leave me spellbound... will you marry me? I promise not to do any of the above, my sweet.

Michele,

Don't believe the liberal slant!

I somehow think this is related to your issues with religion.

And the obnoxious comment-a-lanche (from both sides of Mount Schiavo) begins.

It may be because I didn't care about MJ and I got over the Schiavo thing weeks ago. I'm just like, "Great, docs, thanks. Happy Hour starts in 5 minutes, go drink your fill."

Don't believe the liberal slant!
I somehow think this is related to your issues with religion.

So basically you're saying that I am unable to come to my own conclusion and I'm being pushed into a certain belief on the issue by liberals?

Your presumption that this has something to do with my religion issue is wrong.

Michele has always done a great job of expressing my personal feelings about this whole issue. Keep up the good work!

I agree with Mark (and Michele). In particular regarding Dr./Senator Frist, who took advantage of his professional status to offer a (pseudo, as it turned out) opinion regarding Ms. Schiavo's medical condition and potential for rehabilitation that turned out to be...completely wrong. Medical consultation is one thing; hiding behind a degree and grandstanding for potential political gain is something else.

I don't think Frist has anything to apologize for... nor do I think I do, for that matter (I took the same side he did).

The simple principle of "when in doubt, err on the side of caution" doesn't strike me as all that heinous, religious, or anything else.

Apologize, get your medical license thrown in a paper shredder... it's all good.

Dean, where would you say the principle of "when in doubt, make hyperbolic shit up" would fall?

Andy

The extremists on both sides of this issue have got a lot of stuff to repent.

From my VERY first (and rather reluctant post) on the subject, I stated that Terri's condition and Michael's motivations were irrelevant. So the autopsy didn't mean a thing to me, one way or another.

Terri's wishes were, at least, in dispute.

Some think there was no merit in allowing Terri to live, I saw no problem with letting her live with the people willing to care for her.

It's an effing Greek tragedy no matter how it played.

The parents won'tcan't accept the autopsy because it implies she might have had an eating disorder and brought the coma on herself.

You didn't actually bother reading the report, did you?!

Them: We will not rest until the autopsy results come out. Then we will know EVERYTHING! It will all come out!

Nope. Not me. Try again. I never had any confidence in the upcoming autopsy.

Terri was screwed from the day Grim Reaper Greer made his incredibly incompetent initial 'finding of fact' early on in the case. Everything after that was pure inertia. It demonstrated how thoroughly jacked up our judicial system is; how unable it is to clean up and remedy the excrement made by one judge that f-ed up the whole case by one deplorable ruling.

But why this post, Michele? I thought this case concluded according to your wishes ... feeding tubes pulled and a woman starved to death. I'm wondering why you felt the need to take this final opportunity to spite Terri supporters.

Terri who?

Hey, Dean? I didn't mention you, did I? I'm talking about a Senator who did an armchair analysis of Teri Schiavo, called it a professional medical opinion, then turned into a political cause, grandstanding his way through the whole circus. He is a United States Senator who made an absolute fool of the Senate with his antics. Yes, political antics.

How does this have anything to do with you, Dean? You post on your blog that I'm demanding an apology of YOU? No, I'm not. Stop seeing yourself in everything, Dean. This has nothing to do with you and it may come as a huge shock that I didn't even think about you when I wrote this post. I was thinking about Senator Frist. I never asked Teri's family and friends to apologize. Just Frist. So take your sanctimony and shove it.

Clark, here's why: When I blogged about this and explained in a very emotional and personal way why I felt the way I did, I was accused of being part of a culture of death. I was accused of wanting to murder someone just for political gain (with no explanation as to what that political gain was). I was accused of using Teri's plight to further my views on abortion (even though no one really knows what my views on abortion are) and I was accused of wanting to KILL a woman whose brain was working, who knew what was going on, who was cognizant of the world around her, who could follow a ball with her eyes. But she couldn't do any of those things, could she? My beliefs surrounding what should happen to Teri were born out of pure personal feeling and emotions and I made that very, very clear from the start. Yet I was called the most vile, vicous names. I was accused of horrible things because I wanted an aware, functional person (in their eyes) to die.

There were many, many people on both sides who used this to push a political or religious agenda. I'm not one of them.

I am not grandstanding or doing a victory dance over the autopsy. I am pointing out the sad fact that after all the waiting and all the talk about how the autopsy would prove everything once and for all, it has only furthered the ugliness with cries of bribery, conspiracy, etc. I didn't mention once in my post anything like "Yay, Teri's brain wasn't working, I was RIGHT!" I am angry at Frist for making such a remarkable jerk of himself while representing my country. That's it.

In related news, Bill Frist after closely examining the cover, disputes the conclusions of the autopsy.

I am seeking a true medical analysis, and hopefully someone can point me in the right direction to answer the following:

What effects does prolonged dehydration have on the brain, regarding shrinkage and the like?

Put another way: did the autopsy indicate the amount of damage the brain suffered before the feeding tube was removed, or after.

(Please excuse the mangling of tense in my previous post... so that's why there is a Preview button...)

Although I opposed removing the tube, when I heard the autopsy results my reaction was positive. It appears Michael Schiavo & his medical experts were right all along, and that Terri was at least partially brain-dead and therefore incapable of suffering or having a desire to live -- things many were concerned about given the conflicting medical claims of each side.

I believe Frist did what he thought was right, although I didn't think the federal government should have gotten involved in a state matter, let alone passed a law for a single individual. But the people that really need to apologize are the Schindler family for repeatedly smearing Michael Schiavo without any evidence that he had anything to do with her condition. Unfortunately they just can't let it go, even after the autopsy.

Michele's statements on this issue have been very rational and reasonable, by any objective standard. Of course, that means absolutely nothing to anyone who comes at the issue from a hyper-religious or religio-political angle.

Nobody in their right mind - certainly not Michele - is celebrating this woman's death. It is a tragedy, as Darleen said. But tragedies happen, and you can't make them disappear into thin air simply by force of will. There was no technology that could have allowed Terry Schiavo to live as a non-vegetative being. It is tragic that this happened to a young woman who had a full life ahead of her, but no amount of hyper-emotionalism could have given her life back to her.

You folks who have attacked Michele over the Schiavo issue need to fecking grow up.

Hey, Dean? I didn't mention you, did I? I'm talking about a Senator who did an armchair analysis of Teri Schiavo, called it a professional medical opinion, then turned into a political cause, grandstanding his way through the whole circus.

Do you have a link to back up your assertion that Sen. Frist called his lay opinion a "professional medical opinion?" If not, then perhaps you should cut Dean and Clark a little slack for getting a little confused as to exactly which strawmen you were or were not attacking.

And please don't insult your readers' intelligence by now claiming that your original rant was directed entirely at Bill Frist and Bill Frist alone. Your phony quotes in the original post are all attributed to an undefined "them," not "him."

As usual ("MikeR"), anyone who disagrees with you must be "hyper-religious", or they would see the light of reason that shines so brightly from Michele's posts, not to mention your brilliiant comments.

And Michele, you can hide behind your bullshit "I'm talking about Frist" explanation if you want, but what is this?

Them: We will not rest until the autopsy results come out. Then we will know EVERYTHING! It will all come out!

[Autopsy results are released]

Them: The autopsy is meaningless! It means NOTHING!

Parents: We don't believe the results

Does Frist suffer from MPD? You just had to take a jab at the "Pro-Terri" camp, and A DEAD WOMAN'S PARENTS.

Someone e-mails a comment about your grandma and the world comes to a stop, but hey, can't her parents just get over it already?

Nice.

Now I'll step aside so that your legion of ass-lickers will come to your defense. After all, someone said something mean to you. What could be worse?

Maybe dying of thirst. Or worse yet, having someone say something nasty about (*gasp*) your grandma. Now that's torture.

This here Washington Post article has some quotes from Sen. Frist regarding the autopsy.

Loves me some scab-picking...

Without attacking anyone, I would like to state that I never had any doubt that Terri was severely brain damaged and I was not happy with her killing.

We don't really know what it's like to be partially brain dead. A person who completely lacks a brain or whose brain has been totally destroyed obviously has no thoughts. A person who suffers from severe brain damage, though, is not completely dead. Maybe her life wasn't worth living. Maybe her consciousness and all that made her a person was totally dead. We don't know. Even the autopsy can't tell us that.

I don't really like the idea that a person who has mental function below a certain point can be killed. The Terri Schiavo case has set that precedent. At this point, the threshold for mental activity is pretty low, but it could change. She was not imminently dying like a person who is sufferent from massive organ failure or massively metastatic cancer is. She was in need of care like many very old, physically handicapped, or even newborn babies do.

I realize that this case is not especially unique and that this kind of thing happens. I don't particularly like it but there we are. I don't really have a good solution or a good, simple policy or law that would handle these kinds of issues to propose, unfortunately.

...I was accused of being part of a culture of death. I was accused of wanting to murder someone just for political gain... I was called the most vile, vicous names. I was accused of horrible things....

That must have been really hard. 'Cause it's never happened to you on this blog before, so I can see how it would have caught you off-guard. I can certainly understand why you're upset. Who would've predicted that posting an opinion about a major political battleground issue on a blog that gets 10,000 hits a day (many of them from devoutly conservative readers) would have provoked a volley of personal attacks and insults?

It happens that I agreed with you about the Schiavo thing, so whatever about that. What I'm always amazed by is how thin-skinned you are about the gushing torrents of negative feedback you get off the internet. Not to say you're not entitled to your reaction— I know that's a hot button issue with you. But it does start to come off as kind of passive aggressive after, like, two years or so.

Just my personal opinion, of course. No doubt it will only annoy you-- if you give it any consideration at all. I'd hate to be so full of myself as to assume that you'd bother.

I appreciate your clarifications, Michele.

In your update, you add ...

I thought I'd clarify a few things for the self absorbed people who assume that by "Sen. Frist" I meant THEM.

'Self absorbed?!' The crux of your original commentary read thus ...

Them: We will not rest until the autopsy results come out. Then we will know EVERYTHING! It will all come out!

[Autopsy results are released]

Them: The autopsy is meaningless! It means NOTHING!
Parents: We don't believe the results

Now, what exactly is self absorbed about people who understand that the plural "Them" applies to a broader spectrum of humanity than the singular "Sen. Frist?"

Nor do you imply that "Them," refers to Terri's "Parents," for her parents are defined separately from "Them," as opposed to saying, "Them (her parents)."

When you apply your original commentary to "Them," it is logically understood by readers to include such people as those who rather vigorously jousted with you in your earlier posts, in which you advocated removal of Terri's food and water.

When I blogged about this and explained in a very emotional and personal way why I felt the way I did, I was accused of being part of a culture of death.

I wouldn't suggest that you are a card-carrying member of the 'culture of death,' or an enforcer of its decrees, but rather that you vocally advocate in accordance with its tenets, and its application. This demonstrates a certain level of unity and commonality. As to whether advocacy (as opposed to active participation) makes you a literal—as opposed to merely a principled—"part" of that culture is perhaps mostly a matter how broadly the term is being defined.

I was called the most vile, vicous names.

Wherever this occurred, I unreservedly condemn it. You have advocated your position most passionately, and those in opposition are welcome to differ with you with equal passion; however, to call you vile and vicious names is beyond the pale, and has no just place in any such argument. Period.

I am not grandstanding or doing a victory dance over the autopsy.

I will admit that it seemed that way to me at first glance, but on further reflection I will assume that you penned your post with purer motives than that. However much I may generally disagree with you on social and religious matters, my respect for you is a given.

Joshua, you calling ME passive aggressive is kind of funny. You're so classically P/A they should write a book about you.

Joe? Man up, Nancy. Leave a real name and email address when you make comments like that. Don't be such a coward, man.

Clark, I was basically referring to Dean assuming that I was looking for HIM to apologize since I mentioned Frist apologizing.

I'll start taking wagers now on when Bill Frist apologizes.

See, it says FRIST. It doesn't say THEM or HER PARENTS. It is a separate thought from the rest of the post. Frist. Apologize. Not Dean Esmay, not conservative Christians, not right wing bloggers, not Teri's parents, not anyone but the single particular name mentioned: BILL FRIST.

You're so classically P/A they should write a book about you.

They did. It's called I Know You Are But What Am I?

Maybe you've read it?

Yes. I also read the sequel, called I'm Rubber, You're Glue.

See, it says FRIST. It doesn't say THEM or HER PARENTS. It is a separate thought from the rest of the post.

Oh, I was never in doubt as to your intent that apology should be singular in reference to Frist.

My issue regarding your use of "Them" was in regard to your description of Terri supporters in relation to the autopsy, not to that of apology.

As to your reference to "the self absorbed people," I concluded that (as the phrase itself would indicate) "people" referred to individuals in plural. I’m glad this misunderstanding has been ironed out.

In closing I’ll say this, Michele; I wish I was half the blogger that you are. Few put themselves out there like you do—everyone has to respect that. Ok, some don’t—but they’re lesser people for such failure. I appreciate something of what it takes to wade into the trenches, blogging on such emotionally and philosophically charged matters such as the Terri case. You and I may not agree on the Terri case, but I want to reiterate that I appreciate you, Michele, and your blog much more than some of my opposition in your comments section may seem to indicate.

Michele,

Nothing was definitive in the autopsy results. Period. They ruled out all speculation. We still don't know how she went into the "persistive vegetative state" or if she would have recovered. To say that one side was validated would be wrong.

In regard to your religious beliefs...I stand by what I said. Everything we know and believe influences how we come down on one side or another on an issue. As I think I've shared here before, my faith, my relationship with God helps me influence my thoughts and beliefs. Religion can be a very bad thing, and a lot of bad things are done in the name of religion. However, Terry's family has strong religious convictions that have brought them to the stand that they have taken and to dismiss it as crazy or stupid is infact ignorant and close-minded.

Usually I agree with you on most issues. We just come from completely different places on this one.

Everything we know and believe influences how we come down on one side or another on an issue.

Thus the oft-noted, "People who know the capitols of all 50 states and believe that vanilla tastes better than chocolate tend to be Nazis," correlation.

Leave my real name? You mean the same way all commenters do, right? Maybe if I left the name "Joe B" or "Joe the Mustard Lover" I'd get a pass, eh?

And what would be the purpose? Do you need to e-mail me personally? I stopped leaving my real e-mail address in comments when my mail box started filling up with spam, but nice try.

Sorry but that straw man is falling apart. Feel free to beat the hell out of it though. I feel so emasculated now that you've told me to "man up."

You're pissed because you've been caught doing a victory dance. The woman is dead, but your focus is on the horrible things people said about you.

Personally, I think Terri and her family probably got a bit of a worse deal than you did. You're still alive.

Man up already.

Victory dance? Hardly. Nobody has won anything.

Explain to me how this was a victory dance. I never said anything about "winning" or anyone losing or being vindicated or anything. I made reference to reactions to the report. I made reference to the fact that Bill Frist owes the American people an apology.

I don't think that's tantamount to a victory dance. But you go ahead and believe that if it makes you feel all smug and righteous.

You're right. What you got caught doing is sticking your tongue out at "Them" and Terri's parents (whose daughter, you may remember, is dead), and then clumsily trying to get out of it by saying that you were talking about Frist.

But honestly, can you explain the need to say ONE FUCKING WORD about the people who lost their child?

You were obviously very hurt by the things people said of you, because you brought them up again, so I guess it's a real sore point for you.

Don't you think that losing a daughter might smart just a bit too? Don't THEY at least deserve a break?

If you had an ounce of decency you'd remove the reference from Terri's parents from this post. I know you could give two shits what I think, but I would actually respect that.

As Trevino writes: "Ronald Reagan, in explaining why those who doubted the humanity of the fetus should be against abortion, asked whether, if one did not know what was in a paper bag, if one would nonetheless kick it. We know: there are those who would kick it, and kick it hard."

Ah well. I guess I'm done here.

An ounce of decency and two shits! Do I hear an ounce and three! An ounce and three going right here!

Joe:

Terri's parents attempted to use the weight of public opinion to affect the outcome of their daughter's case. If they'd treated this like a private matter, I'd never have heard of this shit. But since I have— guess what? I get to have an opinion. Wave your underwear around in public, people get to talk about whether they're clean or not.

Of course Michele publicly campaigned for the guy who signed a bill to keep Schiavo's tube from being messed with. So, you know, "Nya-nya," on that one and all. But if Michele's too mature to do a victory dance around this autopsy report, I'll gladly cop to it: Terri's higher brain functions are just one of the many things Congress and the President and, yes— her poor exploited (but adult and consenting) parents —were wrong about last year. This is me, doing a little dance and shaking my ass around the fucking autopsy to the tune of Jungle Boogie.

Weirdly enough, Terri Schiavo's still dead and her parents have yet to react to my obnoxious behavior. If I didn't know better I might start to suspect that most of the rest of the world doesn't much care what about this conversation or whether Michele typed:

Parents: We don't believe the results

and that you're just stroking your moral indignation because it gives you a warm feeling inside.

But that's just me. And, as everyone knows, I'm terribly passive aggressive.

Christ on a crutch.

Haven't read in awhile,and I pop over to find this! Not terribly surprising, you and I are on the same side in this - I feel exactly as you've stated, and posted the same on our blog when all of this was going on - only to have some of my best friends rip me to shreds over it.

No, I didn't do a happy dance over the autopsy results either - but I hoped at least that it would shut some people up. Guess those who are still blathering on are the ones who want so badly to believe they were right that they won't even accept scientific proof of the facts.

She was in a persistent vegetative state - the autopsy proved that. She couldn't follow a baloon with her eyes - the autopsy proved that. There was no evidence of abuse - the autopsy proved that.

Get real, people. Terri Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state for FIFTEEN YEARS. The legal fight to have the tubes disconnected was seven years long. That means, for EIGHT YEARS, HER HUSBAND hoped for improvement. EIGHT YEARS. She had treatment, she had therapy - and the autopsy has proven that NONE OF THAT could have changed the state of her brain - it was damaged beyond repair.

Jeez, people - Michael Schiavo is a normal human being - not the monster you've tried t paint him to be for years and years. He had to make an awful decision - but it was not one made for financial gain.

Meh...this is that whole arguing on the internet thing again, which I promised myself at some point I'd quit...

Can't we all just get along? :)

The world would be boring if we all had the same opinion.

She was in a persistent vegetative state - the autopsy proved that.

Saying that none of their findings were "inconsistent" with PVS is not the same as Proving" should was PVS.

I'm no medical expert. Not at all. But see, there's something a friend pointed out to me in the autopsy. It said that Schiavo was blind.

Which would make all those people insisting that her eyes following the pretty balloons and looking directly at people proved she was conscious were, well, full of crap, wouldn't it?

I'm just sayin'.

It would mean that they very possibly wrong, so what's your point?

I'm not authorized to speak for Meryl, and she generally does a good job of expressing herself, but if you don't mind I'd like to take stab at your question to her, John: it means they were full of ...uh... nonsense. It means they were deluded. It means their belief that the pump should be left on indefinitely based on their belief about her level of awareness was wrong. It means they are not credible people, and it underscores why spouses are better able to make end-of-life decisions than parents and siblings. It means that sober minds - not clouded by wishful thinking - need to step into these matters and do the right thing.

It means Terri Schiavo died 15 years ago, in other words.

Any questions?

None for you. I don't feed trolls.

Immediately going to name-calling when you've been spanked doesn't make people see you as a bright and talented person, John. It's actually pretty weak.

I apologize. I'll seek help so that I can resist the urge to call people deluded or full of nonsense, or question their credilbility.

I was just really stinging from that spanking.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/sep99/938556195.Ns.r.html

To answer the question that someone else asked, the answer is no, dying from dehydration would not make your brain shrink to the size that her's was. Only a massive brain injury would do that, such as a stroke, or lack of 02 for a time.
What they were saying at the time was that she had an eating disorder that caused her potassium levels to drop causing a heart attack, which in turn caused the brain damage from the lack of air to her brain when her heart was not beating.
Abuse from her husband does not cause a heart attack from a potassium imbalance. Really, they should have never started cpr on her to begin with, she'd apparently been down too long when they did, and they should have called her in the er, only apparently after giving her injections of potassium, they got her heart beating again. After doing the ct/mri, they should have unplugged her then. Again, apparently even her husband didn't believe that she was never coming back so they left her plugged up, for years until HE finally realized that she or whatever made her, her, was gone and then the real fight started. Well, that, and then the fact that the parents wanted a cut of the money which was the bottom line of the fight, he wasn't giving any to them, preferring to use it to pay her bills, and they got pissed. I think they realized she was gone years ago too, but hey, there might be more money in the works for them too. But if she's gone, there's no hope for that at all is there. If nothing else, once they got her assigned to them, they could then try to go back and get the money assigned too. The whole thing reeked to high heaven, and what a dog and pony show it was.