X-Message-Number: 18341
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 00:51:13 -0800
From: James Bryan Swayze <>
Subject: Three wishes come true
References: <>

>
>
> Message #18322
> Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2002 10:47:16 -0700
> From: Mike Perry <>
> Subject: Venturist Assistance to Swayze
>
> To help James Swayze, and more generally other, similar cases that might
> come up, the Society for Venturism has now established a Cryonics
> Assistance Fund. Until further notice, contributions to this fund will be
> remitted in their entirety to Cryonics Institute's James Swayze Fund. The
> Venturist organization is tax-exempt, with 501(c)3 status, thus
> contributions should be tax deductible. (It is my understanding that direct
> contributions to CI's Fund are not tax deductible.) If you wish to
> contribute, you should send a check payable to "Society for Venturism" and
> mark it "Cryonics Assistance Fund" or "James Swayze Fund." Send it to me,
> Mike Perry, 7895 E. Acoma Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-6916. I will forward
> the funds immediately to CI and, unless directed otherwise, include an
> acknowledgement of the contributor. I hope this will increase the
> assistance to James and others in the future with similar needs. Anyone
> feel free to forward this message as seems appropriate.
>
>

snippage



First let me beg forgiveness for my tardiness in commenting on this development 
and thanking all involved for such a profound step toward the realization of 
three of my most important goals. Last night I prepared to write this but fell 
asleep. I had been out all day running errands and visiting my neurologist for 
answers to the problem of the increased pain and spasticity I have been enduring
(barely) since my last surgery in October. I was quite tired as I hadn't slept 
for 38 hours mostly because of pain. Fortunately the visit to my doctor was 
fruitful. He agreed with me to try Botox A injections in the muscles of my hands
and wrists that are causing the constant cramping that has made typing very 
difficult and drawing and painting out of the question since October. He also 
agreed to try a new to me medication called Neurontin that is helpful for 
neurological caused pain such as diabetic neuropathy and spinal cord injury 
issues. He warned me it caused drowsiness but jeez! I took it

after getting settled back into bed and prepared to do my email. The next thing 
I recall is my mother telling me to go ahead and shut off my pc and just go to 
sleep for the night. I was sleeping sitting straight up! I didn't awake fully 
again except for brief moments a few times to clear my lungs until after 1:00 pm
the next day.


When I first got involved with cryonet my only intention was to fellowship with 
others that believed like I do. I had no idea it might lead to the possibility 
of funding my own suspension. I didn't mean to come begging for myself let alone
for others also disabled. I am, however, intelligent enough to not look a gift 
horse in the mouth. When you're drowning it's wise not to be to proud to grasp 
the only hand reaching out to pull you into the life raft. I gladly grasp that 
hand made up collectively from all of you for myself and for all those in my 
same predicament. Thanks to John Grigg who first asked could something be done, 
thanks to Gary Tripp who pledged the first donation, thanks to all those who 
followed suit, thanks to Robert Ettinger for breathing life into the quest and 
now thanks to Mike Perry and Dave Pizer and all the Venturists for the final 
justification added to the realization of three of my dream goals since becoming
involved here.


By this, "justification", I mean that once it became a real possibility that I 
might be funded for suspension I felt so undeserving to be selected alone for 
this honor from among all that need the same as I. I am so relieved now to know 
that others may also have the same chance as I to have their very lives saved...
that they also may now reach for the hand reaching out to pull them into the 
life raft headed for the future and to cures for all of our disabilities. I 
could never have dreamed or expected that my becoming involved here would lead 
to this. I am humbled and overwhelmed and so terribly grateful. Thank you all so
very much.


That is not all there is to say though. Once becoming involved with you all I 
noticed with sadness the rancor and animosity between some folks here. I saw 
this as counter productive. I certainly could not, not knowing the history, 
understand why it existed. I knew other newcomers would as well be confused and 
perhaps put off. It has also been rerported to the mainstream media and that 
cannot be good publicity. I thought to myself there must some day be peace 
amongst cryonicists. I began to ponder ways to get everyone together and to 
bring peace to cryonet. I even discussed some things with a few folks. Now I 
would never be so presumptuous so self aggrandizing to say I planned this 
possible outcome. I'm as surprised as anyone else but I can't help noticing that
possibly this outcome and the recent exchange between Dr. Lemler and Prof. 
Ettinger just might be small steps toward this peace. How say you all?

>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message #18324
> From: 
> Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 14:50:28 EST
> Subject: Re: Venturist Assistance to Swayze
>
> Many thanks to Mike Perry, Dave Pizer, and the others involved in the
> Venturist help for James Swayze. A cheerful note! Maybe we need another
> bumper sticker, "Good Things Happen."

snippage


Yes, many many thanks. Now I had an idea for a bumper sticker but so much sleep 
knocked right out of my brain. Can't wait for a memory chip interface one day. 
I'll just have to make up a new one. How about:

Friends don't let friends rot in graves... Cryonics look into it and live.

James

--
My website:
http://www.davidpascal.com/swayze

A collection of photos of me and some of my artwork:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292752723&code=2039335&mode=invite


A radio interview on Dr. J's ChangeSurfer Radio program with me and the father 
of cryonics Prof. Robert Ettinger, author
of "The Prospect of Immortality":
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=3728

A favorite quote:

From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of the journey
is not to arrive
--Prime Mover by RUSH from Hold Your Fire available here:


http://cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1804486765/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/artistid=RUSH/itemid=408870

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