X-Message-Number: 26794
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 08:45:03 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: comments to Kennita and Marta

To and for Kennita:

When I looked at the problem of how to arrange your suspension before
you were dead, I found that in California, where I was living at the
time, starvation was the only alternative that would prevent autopsy
or objections by the Coroner. Yes, it is unpleasant etc, but as the
only workable alternative it came out better than any other method.

As for taking videotapes of your decision, interviews with others,
etc etc, that raises a major problem. Editing videotapes can do
all kinds of things now, and it's very easy for a suspicious
coroner to doubt the accuracy of the tapes. And coroners have lots
of power almost everywhere; if the coroner takes you away and 
autopsies your brain, he's killed you. What the witnesses and
helpers might say afterwards won't change your fate --- nor is
the coroner required to pay attention to anyone who objects.

To Marta:

Thanks for your best wishes. So far I haven't gone downhill, but
the tumor remains (though it's shrunk a lot, it's still there).
It doesn't show on Cryonet, but I do get seizures, and the tumor
is in a brain location in which it interferes most with my
physical coordination. Both kinds of damage occurred when the
tumor first occurred. Radiation treatment (not repeatable) dealt
with the tumor for over 10 years, but it did return. I'm taking
other things too, which might help, though none of them are
recognized and I must pay for them entirely by myself. The
anticancer drug gets mostly paid for by Australia, but I still
must come up with ~~~$50 a month for the dose.

I'm hoping to live at least until one of 2 things happens: a
better drug is invented which cures my brain tumor, or alternatively
vitrification for brains becomes totally perfected so that I
can be suspended knowing that at least I will continue living
someday in the future.

            Best wishes and long long life to all,

                Thomas Donaldson

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