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• December 3, 1963

   

  Theresa (Terri) Marie Schindler is born in Pennsylvania.

• November 10, 1984

   

  Terri Schindler, 20, and Michael Schiavo, 21, are married at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Southhampton, Pennsylvania.

• February 25, 1990

   

  Ms. Schiavo suffers cardiac arrest, apparently caused by a potassium imbalance and leading to brain damage due to lack of oxygen. She was taken to the Humana Northside Hospital and was later given a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to provide nutrition and hydration. Police report

• May 12, 1990

     

  Ms. Schiavo is discharged from the hospital and taken to the College Park skilled care and rehabilitation facility.

     

  June 18, 1990

     

  Court appoints Michael Schiavo as guardian; Ms. Schiavo’s parents do not object.

     

  June 30, 1990

     

  Ms. Schiavo is transferred to Bayfront Hospital for further rehabilitation efforts.

     

  September 1990

     

  Ms. Schiavo’s family brings her home, but three weeks later they return her to the College Park facility because the family is “overwhelmed by Terri’s care needs.”

     

  November 1990

     

  Michael Schiavo takes Ms. Schiavo to California for experimental “brain stimulator” treatment, an experimental “thalamic stimulator implant” in her brain.

• February 14, 1993

     

  Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers have a falling-out over the course of therapy for Ms. Schiavo; Michael Schiavo claims that the Schindlers demand that he share the malpractice money with them.

• May 1998

     

  Michael Schiavo petitions the court to authorize the removal of Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube; the Schindlers oppose, saying that she would want to remain alive.  The court appoints Richard Pearse, Esq., to serve as the second guardian ad litem for Ms. Schiavo.

• December 20, 1998

     

  The second guardian ad litem, Richard Pearse, Esq., issues his report in which he concludes that Ms. Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state with no chance of improvement and that Michael Schiavo’s decision-making may be influenced by the potential to inherit the remainder of Ms. Schiavo’s estate.

• February 11, 2000

     

  Judge Greer rules that Ms. Schiavo would have chosen to have the PEG tube removed, and therefore he orders it removed, which, according to doctors, will cause her death in   approximately 7 to 14 days.

• March 7, 2000

     

  Judge Greer denies the Schindlers’ petition to perform “swallowing” tests on Ms. Schiavo.

• January 24, 2001

     

  Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal (2nd DCA) upholds Judge Greer’s ruling that permits the removal of Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube.

•    

  April 12, 2001

     

  The Schindlers file a motion requesting that Judge Greer recuse himself.

     

  The Schindlers petition the Florida Supreme Court to stay the removal of Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube.

• April 20, 2001

     

  Federal District Court Judge Richard Lazzara grants the Schindlers a stay until April 23, 2001, to exhaust all their possible appeals.

• April 24, 2001

     

  By order of trial court Judge Greer, and upon issuance of a 2nd DCA mandate, Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube is removed

• April 26, 2001

     

  The Schindlers file an emergency motion with Judge Greer for relief from judgment based upon new evidence, which includes a claim that a former girlfriend of Michael Schiavo will testify that he lied about Ms. Schiavo’s wishes; Judge Greer dismisses the motion as untimely. Also on this date, the Schindlers file a new civil suit that claims that Michael Schiavo perjured himself when he testified that Ms. Schiavo had stated an aversion to remaining on life support.  Pending this new civil trial, Circuit Court Judge Frank Quesada orders Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube to be reinserted.

• August 10, 2001

     

  Judge Greer denies the Schindlers' motion (1) to have their own doctors examine Ms. Schiavo, (2) to remove Michael Schiavo as her guardian, and (3) to disqualify himself from the proceedings.

     

  August 17, 2001

     

  Judge Greer delays the removal of Ms. Schiavo's PEG tube until October 9 in order to allow the Schindlers time to appeal.

• October 3, 2001

     

  The 2^nd DCA delays the removal of the PEG tube indefinitely.

     

  October 17, 2001

     

  The 2^nd DCA rules that 5 doctors should examine Ms. Schiavo to determine if she can improve with new medical treatment.  The Schindlers and Michael Schiavo are to choose 2 doctors each, and the court is to appoint a doctor.  The appeals court also affirms Greer’s denial of the motion to disqualify himself

     

• March 14, 2002

     

  The Florida Supreme Court denies Michael Schiavo’s petition to review the 2^nd DCA’s ruling allowing 5 doctors to examine Ms. Schiavo.

• December 13, 2002

     

  Judge Greer stays his November 22 ruling: Ms. Schiavo should not have her PEG tube removed until an appeals court can rule on the case.

• June 6, 2003

     

  The 22^nd DCA, affirming Judge Greer’s November 2002 ruling, concludes that Michael Schiavo can remove Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube on October 15.

• August 30, 2003

     

  Ms. Schiavo’s parents file a federal lawsuit challenging the removal of Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube. Schiavos’ petition (D). Schindler v. Schiavo, Civil Action No. 8:03-CV-1860-T-26-T-TGW

     

  September 17, 2003

     

  Judge Greer orders the removal of the PEG tube to take place on October 15, 2003. He also rejects the Schindlers’ request that Ms. Schiavo be given therapy to learn how to eat without the tube.

• October 7, 2003

     

  Governor Jeb Bush files a federal court brief in support of the Schindlers’ effort to stop the removal of the PEG tube.

     

• October 15, 2003

     

  Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube is once again removed.

• October 19, 2003

     

  The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc. files a federal court lawsuit that claims that the removal of Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube is abuse and neglect.

• October 20, 2003

     

  The Florida House of Representatives passes a bill, “Terri’s Law,” that allows the governor to issue a “one-time stay in certain cases.”

• October 21, 2003

     

  The Florida Senate passes the bill; Governor Bush issues an executive order directing reinsertion of the PEG tube and appointing a guardian ad litem for Ms. Schiavo.
• Ms. Schiavo’s PEG tube is reinserted.

• October 28, 2003

     

  President George W. Bush praises the way his brother, Governor Jeb Bush, has handled the Schiavo matter.

• October 29, 2003

    

  Michael Schiavo files court papers in his state-court lawsuit, arguing that “Terri’s Law” is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union has joined Michael Schiavo.

• October 31, 2003

     

  Judge Demers appoints Dr. Jay Wolfson as Ms. Schiavo’s guardian ad litem. Dr. Wolfson holds both medical and legal degrees; he is also a public health professor at the University of South Florida.  He is supposed to represent Ms. Schiavo’s best interest in court, but he has no authority to make decisions for her.

• November 21, 2003

     

  Florida Sens. Stephen Wise and Jim Sebesta introduce legislation (S692) that would require persons in persistent vegetative states to be administered medically supplied nutrition and hydration in the absence of a living will, regardless of family beliefs about what those patients would have wanted. The measure is withdrawn from consideration on April 16, 2004.

• March 20, 2004

     

  Pope John Paul II addresses World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations and Pontifical Academy for Life Congress on "Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas." His remarks spark widespread interest and controversy.

• June 1, 2004

     

  The 2nd DCA grants a motion from attorneys for Michael Schiavo to send the case directly to the Florida Supreme Court and bypass a lower-court review. Meanwhile, attorneys for Gov. Bush file a motion asking that all appeals be halted until the issue of whether Michael Schiavo has the authority to fight the governor on his wife's behalf is resolved.

•    

  June 16, 2004

     

  Florida's Supreme Court, pointing to "a question of great public importance requiring immediate resolution by this Court," accepts jurisdiction and sets oral arguments for August 31, 2004.

• July 27, 2004

     

  National group of bioethicists files amicus brief "in support of Michael Schiavo as guardian of the person."

• February 18, 2005

    

  The Schindlers again petition Judge Greer in Pinellas County for reconsideration of the order of February 11, 2005, in which the court upheld its judgment, made in the year 2000, that the PEG tube should be removed.

• February 25, 2005

     

  Judge Greer denies the motion before him and orders that, “absent a stay from the appellate courts, the guardian, Michael Schiavo, shall cause the removal of nutrition and hydration from the ward, Theresa Schiavo, at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2005.”

•    

  March 15, 2005

     

  The Florida House Health & Families Council considers and approves the second committee substitute H.701.

     

  The Florida Senate Judiciary Committee passes S.804, providing that medically supplied nutrition and hydration cannot be “suspended from” a person in a PVS if: (1) the purpose of the suspension is “solely to end the life of” a person in a PVS; (2) a conflict exists on the issue of suspension of medically supplied nutrition and hydration among the persons who could be proxy decisionmakers for that person under Florida law; and (3) the person in the PVS had not executed a written advance directive or deignated a health care surrogate.
• The U.S. Senate passes a “private bill” applying to the Schiavo case but differing from H.R. 1332. The U.S. Senate website, at www.senate.gov, explains a “private bill” as follows: “A private bill provides benefits to specified individuals (including corporate bodies). Individuals sometimes request relief through private legislation when administrative or legal remedies are exhausted. Many private bills deal with immigration–granting citizenship or permanent residency. Private bills may also be introduced for individuals who have claims again the government, veterans benefits claims, claims for military decorations, or taxation problems. The title of a private bill usually begins with the phrase, "For the relief of. . . ." If a private bill is passed in identical form by both houses of Congress and is signed by the President, it becomes a private law.”
• Republican senators circulate a memo on the political advantages of supporting legislation to reinsert Ms. Schiavo's nutrition tube. On April 7, The Washington Post reported that "The legal counsel to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) admitted [on April 6] that he was the author of a memo citing the political advantage to Republicans of intervening in the case ... Brian H. Darling, 39, a former lobbyist for the Alexander Strategy Group on gun rights and other issues, offered his resignation and it was immediately accepted, Martinez said."
• March 18, 2005
• The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform issues five subpoenas: one commanding Michael Schiavo to appear before it and bring with him the “hydration and nutrition equipment” in working order; three commanding physicians and other personnel at the hospice to do the same; and one commanding Ms. Schiavo to appear before it. The subpoenas would require that the PEG tube remain in working order until at least the date of testimony, March 25, 2005. The subpoenas are included as appendices to  the U.S. House All Writs Petition (see just below).

•    

  The PEG tube is removed in mid-afternoon. This is the third time the tube has been removed in accordance with court orders.

• March 19-20, 2005

     

  The U.S. Senate delays its Easter recess and works on Saturday to reach a compromise with the House on a bill, S.686, closely resembling the special bill it passed on March 17. On Palm Sunday (which holiday is frequently noted in debate), it then passes S.686 and the U.S. House of Representatives returns from Easter recess for a special session to debate S.686.

• March 21, 2005

     

  Shortly past 12:30 a.m., the U.S. House of Representatives votes 203-58 to suspend its rules and pass S.686.
  Congressional Debate on S.686

     

  Roll call vote on S.686

     

  President Bush signs S.686 at 1:11 a.m.

     

  Federal District Court Judge James D. Whittemore, Middle District of Florida (in Tampa), hears arguments on the Schindlers' motion that he order re-insertion of the PEG tube while the lawsuit they will assert pursuant to S.686 is litigated.
  Schindlers' Complaint
    Response to Motion for Injunction
  Government's Statement of Interest

     

  March 22, 2005

     

  Federal District Court Judge Whittemore refuses to order re-insertion of the PEG tube.
• rt Order
     

  News agencies report the arrest on March 25 of Richard Alan Meywes of Fairview, N.C., for offering $250,000 for the killing of Michael Schiavo and another $50,000 for the death of Judge Greer.

• March 31, 2005

     

  Ms. Schiavo dies at 9:05 a.m. Her body is transported to the Pinellas Country Coroners’ Office for an autopsy.

• May 17, 2005

     

  More than six weeks after Ms. Schiavo's death, Lisa Wilson is the last of the hundreds of protesters outside Ms. Schiavo's hospice.St. Petersburg Times ( Report)
• Schiavo
  Theresa Marie
  
  Beloved Wife
  
  Born December 3, 1963
  Departed This Earth
  February 25, 1990
  At Peace March 31, 2005
   
  I Kept My Promise
• ember 7, 2005 
    Michael Schiavo establishes a political action committee — TerriPAC — to support or oppose politicians based on their positions regarding "government  intrusion" in private lives.

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