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 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26794