The life-and-death story of a brain-damaged Florida woman, Terri Schiavo, riveted the attention of the whole American public, dividing the country and Schiavo’s family.

Schiavo’s husband urged to disconnect the feeding tube, saying it was Terri’s wish. The Schindlers, Schiavo’s parents, were strongly against it. Both conflicting sides used all possible ways of public procedure and political agenda to reach what they considered to be right decision.

Yesterday, the Schindlers lost their biggest hope -- U.S. District Judge James Whittemore refused to order the reinsertion of the tube.

Today, on the fifth day of the tube removal, the 11th Circuit declined to order the reconnection of the tube.

``There’s no denying the absolute tragedy that has befallen Mrs. Schiavo,’’ Carnes and Hull wrote in the opinion. ``We all have our own family, our own loved ones, and our own children. However, we are called upon to make a collective, objective decision concerning a question of law. In the end, and no matter how much we wish Mrs. Schiavo had never suffered such a horrible accident, we are a nation of laws.’’

The Schindlers vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Without the tube Terri’s life would end in two weeks.