A week ago today, Terri Schiavo died, and years of battle over the feeding tube that kept her alive came to a close.

In 1990, Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage believed to be caused by a blood imbalance possibly brought on by bulimia. Over the past several years, her husband sought to have her feeding tube removed, saying she would never want to be kept alive in such a way. Her parents fought to prevent the removal.

After the tube was ordered to be removed March 18, 2005, Terri lived for 13 days before dying.

I can see how some were able to form strong opinions about the moral details of the "right-to-die" aspect of this situation, but as I read news and information about the past 15 years and what the Schindler and Schiavo families experienced, I was unable to decide what I thought was right.

A main point under debate in the Terri Schiavo case was whether or not she truly was in a persistent vegetative state with extensive brain damage, which is what several physicians did determine. I'm not a doctor, so I have no idea what's true in that situation. It's hard for me to figure out how so many people on the outside were able to come to a conclusion without knowing for sure either.

There has been speculation that Terri's husband, who since her 1990 collapse has fathered two children with another woman, was only after money he would get when she died. I don't know this guy, what he's gone through or how much he did or did not love his wife, so this also is not something I'm willing to pass judgment on.

I am a Christian, but never thought heavily before on what I believe when it comes to life support. I've watched the scene in "Steel Magnolias" many times in the past, when Shelby's husband signs to take her off life support, and her mom holds her hand as she takes her last breath, and I've cried watching it and always thought it was a beautiful scene.

Though we, as outsiders, were informed about the situation to an extent, I don't feel we knew enough to truly understand what the family and husband of Terri Schiavo went through. What motivated them in their beliefs and actions was never entirely certain, no matter what the allegations made were.

It didn't surprise me to read that death threats were made against Michael Schiavo and Florida State Judge George Greer, who made the final ruling that Terri's feeding tube was to be removed.

It did surprise me, however, to read that Greer was asked to leave his southern Baptist church due to his ruling over the case. It dismays me to hear of such quick judgment being passed.

Especially as someone planning to have a career in journalism, I know it's important to know the facts, and understand what is certain or merely speculation.

When something is covered as heavily in the media as this was, it's easy to believe things that aren't proven or jump to conclusions without knowing the entire truth. With something as serious as this, I personally am not willing to make those assumptions.

Sarah Broach is a junior journalism major from Luling and serves as a news editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to slb045@latech.edu.