LaGrange, GA — A repeat of the Terri Shiavo death was averted last Friday when Mae Magouirk, an 81 year old Georgia widow who had undergone 10 days of being deprived of food and hydration, was airlifted to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center where, according to her nephew, she is receiving food, fluids, cardiac care and neurological help.
Magouirk, who was not terminally-ill, comatose, nor in a persistent vegetative state, was a patient at Hospice-LaGrange in Georgia. Her guardian, 36-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth (“Beth”) Gaddy of Hoganville, Ga., had requested that the hospice begin withholding food and water from the patient. When WorldNetDaily (WND) first broke this story it quoted Ms. Gaddy, an elementary school teacher and holder of Magouirk's power of attorney who had been taking care of her grandmother for 10 years, as saying “Grandmama is old and I think it is time she went home to Jesus. … She has glaucoma and now this heart problem, and who would want to live with disabilities like these?”
Ms. Gaddy's decision, which was in direct contravention of Mae Magouirk's living will, greatly disturbed Magourik's nephew, Ken Mullinax, prompting him to contact WND with the story. The subsequent response by readers saved his aunt's life and in gratitude Mr. Mullinax called WND and stated:
“Because of your articles and all of the friends of Terri, my Aunt Mae Magouirk is now in the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center and is receiving food, fluids, cardiac care, and neurological help. We are overjoyed.Reminiscent of the family struggle that surrounded the Terri Shiavo case there were legal struggles between Magouirk's grand-daughter and her sister Lonnie Ruth Mullinax, 74, of Birmingham, and her brother, A.B. McLeod, 64, of Anniston, Ala.. Mae's siblings protested and attempted to have their sister removed from the hospice and transported to UAB Medical Center for treatment. However. Ms. Gaddy and her brother, Michael Shane Magouirk obtained an emergency injunction from Troup County Probate Judge Donald Boyd to prevent the planned air transport.Praise be the name of the Lord, praise be all of the friends of Terri Schindler [Schiavo]. We could never have mobilized public sentiment and pressure on these people in LaGrange, Ga. — at Hospice-LaGrange, Ga., doctors, or the probate judge — unless the friends of Terri and the wonderful media of WorldNetDaily.com had become involved. Thank you all.”
Thankfully, in this case, those who sought to preserve life prevailed.
See also:
Granddaughter Yanks Grandma's Feeding Tube
'Grandma' Airlifted to Medical Center
(This update courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
