Michael and Terri Schiavo

News Update:

1/21/06: After meeting one another 11 years ago at a dentist's office, Michael Schiavo and Jodi Centonze were married in a Catholic church in Espiritu Santo in Florida. They have two children.

6/20/05: Terri's cremated ashes were interred at the Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, Florida.

Birthdates:

Michael Schiavo was born April 3, 1963 in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Theresa Marie Schindler was born on December 3, 1963 in Pennsylvania. She grew up in Huntingdon Valley, a suburb of Philadelphia.

She died on March 31, 2005 in Pinellas Park, Florida. Her cremated ashes were interred at the Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, Florida, on June 20, 2005.

How They Met:

They met as students at Bucks County Community College in 1982. After their 2nd date she knew they would marry. 5 months later he proposed.

Religion:

Theresa, Catholic. Michael, Lutheran.

Wedding Date and Ceremony:

November 10, 1984 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Southhampton, Pennsylvania.

Terri wore a lacy, high-necked wedding dress. Her bridesmaids wore burgundy dresses and straw hats. Michael wore a gray tuxedo. They had approximately 200 guests at their wedding.

Ages at Marriage:

Teresa Schindler, 20, and Michael Schiavo, 21.

Residences:

Initially, they lived in Pennsylvania. Then, in 1986, they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida when Terri's parents moved there for an early retirement.

Michael now lives in Clearwater, Florida.

Occupations:

Michael worked as a restaurant manager, then became a respiratory therapist and registered nurse. He works in a hospital emergency room.

Terri worked as an insurance clerk for Prudential Insurance both in Pennsylvania and Florida. She wanted to be a veternarian.

Children:

Terri and Michael had no children.

Michael has two children with Jodi Centonze. Michael and Jodi have lived together in Clearwater, Florida since 1995.

Miscellaneous:

Several years after Terri's collapse, Michael replaced his wedding ring with a customized gold ring that had the diamonds from Terri's engagement and wedding bands.

Quotes:

Michael, on not divorcing Terri: "This is Terri's wish, this is Terri's choice. And I'm going to follow that wish if it's the last thing I can do for Terri."_{Source: ABC News}

Medical Dispute Timeline:

2/25/90: Around 5:30 AM, Terri Schiavo, 26, collasped. Interruption of oxygen flow to her brain caused permanent brain damage.

Michael Schiavo was appointed by a court as her legal guardian.

1992: Robert Schindler stated that Michael was involved in Terri's collapse. Michael was awarded $1 million in a malpractice judgement by a jury in Pinellas County, Florida. $700,000 was placed into a trust fund for Terri's medical expenses. Reportedly, that the money was mostly spent on legal bills.

1993: The Schindlers tried to have Michael removed as Terri's guardian stating that he was not providing rehabilitation for Terri.

1998: Michael petitioned to have the feeding and hydration tube removed from Terri even though she had not signed an advanced directive or a living will.

2/00: Judge George W. Greer of the Florida Circuit Court ruled that the feeding tube could be removed.

4/24/01: Terri's feeding tube was removed. It was reinserted by Circuit Court Judge Frank Quesada two days later.

10/02/01: An indefinite stay is ordered by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

11/02: Three doctors testified that Terri was in a persistent vegetative state without hope of recovery. Two other doctors reported that they believe Terri could recover. Judge Greer ruled that the feeding tube could be removed in January, 2003.

10/15/03: The feeding tube was removed.

10/21/03: "Terri's Law" was passed by the Florida legislature which allowed Gov. Jeb Bush to stay the judge's order and to have the feeding tube reinserted.

2004: "Terri's Law" declared unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court. Gov. Jeb Bush appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

1/24/05: The appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

3/1/05: The animosity between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers grew when they asked that photos of Terri not become part of Michael's property. They asked for her not to be cremated. The Schindlers asked the Second District Court of Appeals to grant Terri a divorce based on his alleged adultery.

3/10/05: Michael rejected an offer of $1 million to give up his role as guardian for Terri. He also rejected other offers including one reportedly for $10 million.

3/18/05: The feeding tube was removed. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected.

3/21/05: A bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush that transferred jurisdiction of Terri's case to Judge James Whittemore of the U.S. District Court.

3/23/05: U.S. District Court Judge James Whittermore refused to grant a restraining order. The Schindlers filed an appeal. The three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected their appeal.

3/23/05: Michael was reported to be staying by Terri's side until she died.

3/31/05: Terri Schiavo died, at the age of 41. She had been connected to a feeding tube for 15 years. An autopsy was ordered.

She was not alone when she died. At Terri's bedside were:

• Michael, who cradled her

• Michael's brother, Brian

• Attorney George Felos

• Attorney Deborah Bushnell

• Hospice caregivers

4/1/05: Debate between Michael Schiavo and the Schindler family continues over whether Terri would be cremated or buried. Two funerals were planned.

4/4/05: Terri Schiavo's body was cremated. Michael was required to notify her parents as to where her ashes were interred.

4/15/05: Documents released by the Florida's Dept. of Children and Families show no clear evidence of abuse, neglect, or rehabilitation denied. The agency was ordered to make the documents public by Judge Greer. Four memorial services were held by Terri's parents.

6/15/05: The autopsy on Terri Schiavo revealed she was blind, had no sign of trauma, and that her brain was half the normal size. There was no evidence to contradict the original persistent vegetative state diagnosis.

6/20/05: Terri's cremated ashes were interred at the Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, Florida.

1/21/06: Michael Schiavo and Jodi Centonze were married in a Catholic church in Espiritu Santo in Florida.