Defeat does not deter Schiavo's parents

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - As the parents of Terri Schiavo exhaust their legal appeals, NBC's Mark Potter reports Monday on the scene outside the Woodside Hospice.

Have there been any new developments in Florida outside of the hospice right now?
This afternoon a very stricken Bob Schindler, Terri’s Schiavo’s father, came to the microphone looking very haggard, pleading for help, asking someone, anyone to do whatever they can to save his daughter.  The parents know that this is an uphill battle, that time is of the essence and there is unlikely anything that anyone can do for her or is willing to do for her. Yet they still continue to plead. They say that Terri is emaciated.  She is declining.  But they also say that she is still fighting. And given that, they are still making a plea for anyone to try to help.

This weekend, Terri Schiavo’s parents asked supporters to return home and spend Easter with their families.  Since this statement, have you seen a change in the mood or behavior of the supporters outside the hospice?
There’s been a change in the mood outside the hospice but it had nothing to do with that statement.  What happened over the weekend is that the faithful supporters of the parents were joined by people that had other issues, a few people came here to yell at the police. 

A few people came here to cause trouble, and that changed the tenor of the crowd.  It’s back today to where it started.  But the weekend was affected by others who came here for different reasons.

Obviously people have different views of this case based on personal ideologies and experiences.  In your opinion, what is the dominant ideology there on the ground level? 
Most of the people here supporting the parents are conservative Christians.  And they are here supporting a pro-life argument.

It has been said that the family has exhausted every legal and political means that could have been used to have the tube reinserted.  Is there a sense of defeat there in Florida?
The spokesperson for the family says that they have not given up and that is probably true.  But there is a sense that this is over, that they have lost in their final attempt to save Terri Schiavo’s life.  Most people here now are waiting for word of her condition.  Fearing the worse, fearing there is nothing left they can do.

Just a short while ago her stricken father came to the microphone to make one last plea for someone, anyone to do something to reinsert that feeding tube.  He said that she is still responsive but is emaciated.  He talked about her deteriorating.  There is a sense that this is ending and there is not much anyone can do.  There is indeed a sense of defeat. 

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