NY woman dies after 21 years in coma

(AP) NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- The stepfather of a woman who spent 21 years in a coma after being beaten by her husband said he knows she would have died years earlier had it not been for the family's care of her at home.

Bernadette Jones, 51, of Niagara Falls, died Sunday of pneumonia at her family's home, The Buffalo News reported. As her stepfather, Robert Anderson Jr., and other relatives prepared for her funeral Friday, Anderson recalled how family and friends came together when the mother of three was released from the hospital eight months after the attack.

Jones could breathe on her own but needed a feeding tube. She never woke up, although family members said she would eventually open her left eye and move her arms as they cared for her, played music and read from the Bible. Early on, her three children would climb into bed with her and sleep.

"You have to do it willingly and 300 percent or don't do it," Anderson, 70, told The Buffalo News. "Through all the trials and tribulations we went through, we never once argued over Bernadette."

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Her late mother, Marie Anderson, obtained round-the-clock medical care from the state's Crime Victims Board, which also gave money toward the construction of a room for Jones at the back of the family home.

"We know she would have expired a long time ago if she had not come home to live with us," said Robert Anderson, a City Council member. "We know she's gone home to God and to her mother and wow, that's a plus."

Jones was beaten by her husband, Patrick Guiteau, on April 14, 1991. Guiteau, 58, was convicted of first-degree assault and sentenced in November 1992 to 10 to 15 years in prison. State prison records show he was released to immigration officials in 2002. Jones' relatives said Guiteau was an illegal immigrant and was deported to Haiti.

Niagara County prosecutors did not immediately respond to messages Friday asking whether Guiteau might face further charges related to Jones' death.

[andie52]

For the record "Her late mother, Marie Anderson, obtained round-the-clock medical care from the state's Crime Victims Board, which also gave money toward the construction of a room for Jones at the back of the family home."
I would never presume to tell a family whether they should keep a comatose daughter alive by a feeding tube and home care. it was their choice. it's easy to say what you would do or not do in that type of situation until it actually happens. even living wills can be contested

[Transatlantique]

Well they made a nice penny off of this woman. Back in the good ol' days she'd have died long ago as she should have. Didn't the family think about the fact that her spirit was trapped in that body for 21 years, and just how did they know what she was experiencing? When nature or circumstance opens a door for someone to die, let them. Otherwise, we are playing god by keeping a person alive, and what quality of life did she have? She was in a coma, and what does that really mean? She was basically dead despite that her heart was beating, big deal. How much taxpayer money went to keeping this woman alive? Those selfish bible thumpers were keeping her alive for themselves, not her. They just didn't get it. I'm glad they weren't my relatives.

[AnnieDanny]

The family made the choice they did: to take care of her. And they knew what that meant, and like the Stepfather said: it wasn't something that anybody argued about. So I admire them for their dedication, commitment and love. They're a wonderful example of Family.

Other families may make other decisions, also based in love. I don't think it's up to outsiders to say one way or other.

This is a nice article. I enjoyed it. Wonderful people. God bless them.

[Transatlantique]

Blah, blah, blah...

[podboq]

Did any of you people read the article? There was no plug to pull... the only 'life-support' she received was a feeding tube. Meaning to pull her 'plug' would mean letting her die of thirst, first.

The family received help the State's Crime Victims Board, which means the state she lived in paid for it.

IF someone you loved where breathing on their own, heart beating on its own... to be merciful to 'her', you'd let her die of thirst?

[doubleecho-2009]

DUH, feeding tube IS a "plug to pull"!

[rwsmith29456]

Duh! So they should let her starve to death?? That's what they tried to do with my mother and it just made her end more miserable.

[Jaylah54200]

I have to wonder what kind of a "life" she lived for those 21 years.

And whether it would have been her choice to burden her family with the astronomical expense in terms of money and energy to keep her basically lifeless body alive for that long.

Of course, chances are VERY good that her family didn't have the resources, so ended up getting the taxpayer to pay most of the expenses through Social Security disability, Medicaid, etc.

The article even mentions that her family "obtained round-the-clock medical care from the state's Crime Victims Board, which also gave money toward the construction of a room for Jones at the back of the family home."

If something like this were to happen to me, I would sincerely hope that those who loved me would let me die with dignity.

[Ericwvb]

I certainly hope she was not conscious in any sense during those 21 year. Imagine 21 years of no sensory input whatsoever, just unending boredom. It would be a hellish existence that's hard to imagine, worse than spending decades in solitary confinement.

[newsjunkie_56]

No matter how you paint it, this is simply a horrible situation that I don't think any of us would want to be put through. For ME personally, my wishes would be to do all you can for me. Up to an extent. But if after say.....30 days.....if I am not making significant progress, please....pull the plug. But that is ME. In my case, my brother and myself are the last surviving members of our family, and being in our 50's (I am the older by 4 years)and single it's a pretty sure thing we aren't gonna pass our bloodline on into the future. We are very close BUT.....using the above "30 day rule" I would pull the plug on him as he would me. But that is OUR way of thinking. 21 yrs seems way beyond excessive to me BUT....it's a family matter as I see it and they WERE doing what they felt was best and right. I can and will honor their decision, even if it would not have been my way of doing things.

[podboq]

Pulling the plug on her would have meant letting her body die of thirst.

[jaimieandlis]

pulling the plug would have freed a family who wasted their lives caring for a carrot.

[doubleecho-2009]

The FLIP side of this is - what if this poor woman was "living" in complete torment for 21 years, hoping day after day to FINALLY die & relieve the agony? People always "assume" that what they feel is best is correct - may NOT be the case!

[newsjunkie_56]

Yep....I get where you're comin' from double and thus my brother and I have the "30 day rule" between us. Hey.....give either of us a chance, but after 30 days, in MY opinion, do us either a favor and pull the plug.

[jaimieandlis]

funny you would mention that, my wife and I have a 90 day rule and a 0 day rule in the event of being badly burned in a fire. I will honor this rule and go to prison if need be, I have every confidence she will do the same.

[Verascity]

I hope to God that if I'm ever in this condition, my relatives care enough about my wishes (verbal and in writing) to pull the plug!!!

[OKtoDie]

Which ever side of the debate you are on, the main concern is that YOUR medical care wishes are carried out.

We strongly advise ALL adults to inform themselves, have discussions with their families and put their healthcare directions in writing.

Check out the website OKtoDie.com....tools to assist.