23-Year old with terminal brain cancer hopes to be cryopreserved (UPDATE)
October 18, 2012
Kim Suozzi before her diagnosis
As we noted previously, Kim Suozzi, 23, has terminal brain cancer that is highly aggressive and growing rapidly in a location that makes surgery impossible, and her final wish is to be cryopreserved.
Alcor Life Extension Foundation announced Wednesday that it has offered to cryopreserve Kim at a reduced cost, with the staff donating their time for her cryopreservation.
“I learned about cryonics several years ago, while doing reading for a science class, says Kim. “I had always planned on establishing cryopreservation arrangements through life insurance, but I was caught off guard when I was suddenly diagnosed during my last month and a half of college.
“The only thing that I can think of that might let me live out my full life and make me feel a little more at ease with my death is to secure cryopreservation plans in the belief that they figure out how to revive people in the future.”
Ms. Suozzi of Columbia, Missouri wants to relocate to Scottsdale — as soon as possible — which will further reduce the $80,000 cost of cryopreservation. However, she lacks the funds. Hundreds of donors have reached out to help Kim, but time is short.
Donations of any amount are welcome. Send your tax deductible donation to the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, or call 480.905.1906 x114. With help, it is hoped that Kim can someday resume a full life.
Although walking with a leg brace, Ms. Suozzi plans to attend the Alcor 40th Anniversary conference at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort (7200 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale) from October 19–21. She will share her story briefly during the conference and is available for interviews until the morning of Tuesday October 23.
Comments (35)
by victoria
i need to analize more-
thank you
by OmniDo
Ah, the age-old dispute against cryopreservation.
Honestly, I could care less what the “Government” thinks.
My life is mine, not theirs.
If I choose to step into the unknown; be it death, preservation, or whatever, it is MY choice, not theirs.
I would argue that anyone who allows themselves to be subservient to a Government AT ALL, has hence forth forfeit their right to freedoms and liberty.
Now Im not proclaiming anarchy, no. Order is always preferred to chaos, unless the latter is required to achieve a greater degree of the former.
But if this young woman wishes to preserve whatever constituents that we currently model as “Her consciousness and identity”, regardless of the method, so long as it does not threaten or cost the lives of others, then she has the full right to do so, government or anyone else be damned.
by godot
I explored this a couple of years ago. The outrageous thing is that the government insists on killing you. At that time (and I do not think things have changed), there was no way I could LEGALLY put my healthy body into cryopreservation. (It is my belief that the healthier you are at the time you are preserved, the better your chances to be reanimated as yourself, and sooner.) But the govt INSISTS that they kill you (by making you wait for a slow, painful death first.) Then, in many cases, they insist on butchering your body (“autopsy”) before it can be released to Alcor for cryopreservation.
These are state laws, and should be vigorously protested. They should be changed — in at least one state in the USA. Perhaps there is an overseas location where Alcor could set up an office for those of us who wish to be time-jumpers. But the current system — where the government insists on not only the right to kill you, but insists on doing so — is completely untenable. Fight for your right to immortality!!!
by Gus
If you don’t mind, let me play devil’s advocate. If you are healthy. Why would you want to join the frozen chosen w/ only a very, very slim chance (If even that is possible to believe.) that kinda sorta maybe in some far off utopian future. That perhaps medical sciense may have progressed to the point where science fiction becomes science fat and revial of the dead is possible? In that far off “maybe”. Have you considered that these super intelligent beings may not want to bother w/ reviving what to them would be a talking insect or at best a ignorant monkey thing? Or if these futurist super brains do decide to revive you it maybe only for the entertainment value. Imagine this, they revive you and you spend eternity (Because you can no longer die. For whenever you do they will bring you back for their own amusment.) in some freak show of creatures from the ancient past. Because your intelect would be so below them that they wouldn’t have any other reason other than amusement for your existence. Becareful what you wish for. You may just get it. W/ all that said. I too want to be frozen. But only when my time here is over. I am in no hurry to find out what may or may not be on the other side.
by victoria
very interesting-
i did not have clearity of this problem
now i do
victoria michelson
psichologist of university of chile
by Taurus
Many of the comments betray a fundamental misunderstanding of exactly what would happen if Kim is she is cryopreserved by Alcor.
The discussion about people being “more than a body” is irrelevant; indeed, such a belief is compatible with cryonics. When an individual presents for cryopreservation, the ideal circumstance is that the standby and OR team will be perfusing and preserving a living organ.The arbitrary criteria for “legal death” are typically met when the patient flatlines (an arrested heart can be restarted as easily as bioelectrical activity in the brain. In the case of the terminal patient, the standard merely means “We can now give up because there’s nothing more that our technology can do to save this person” (although this often isn’t necessarily the case either).
It’s important to understand that when the carotid is cannulated and the brain is perfused, it’s being done to a *living organ* with *living, functioning cells.* In the case of the brain, the fine cellular structure on which memories are embedded is intact.
To combat ischemia and aid perfusion, CPS is initiated at the moment of pronouncement, drugs are administered, perfluorocarbon is used to aid oxygenation during partial liquid breathing. Understand that if we used a defibillator at this point, or if the intention of the chest compressions was resuscitation, it would not necessarily be difficult to get independent cardiac cycle (heartbeat) going again in some cases; but that is not the goal.
Make no mistake, the brain will be injured (sometimes severely) when it finally gets to the glass transition temperature. Ischemic damage is the major concern; rapid CPS will minimize this, but depending on how long it takes for the patient to be pronounced, there can be considerable damage incurred during the “agonal” phase. The perfusion of the vitrification solution will also be damaging; it is modestly toxic, and the brain is particularly sensitive. If the patient has been ischemic for too long or the perfusion has otherwise gone poorly, areas of the brain may not be completely perfused, and thus will be subjected to freezing damage. Even in the case of a “perfect” perfusion, the dehydration of the brain causes small tears in the vasculature. When the patient is taken to LN2 temp (below Tg), fracturing occurs (similar to cracks on a windshield); the cracks are very small, and there is no loss of information (as there would be, say, with a cut or abrasion).
If all has gone well, then not only will the preserved brain possess viable neuronal tissue, it will also possess the fine ultrastructure responsible in which long-term memories are embedded.
The one who has typically “pronounced” the patient “dead” is a nurse in a hospice facility. They’re doing their job with an arbitrary set guidelines…but I prefer to let the ultimate prognosis rest with the health care professionals of the future.
Whatever the final result, they will have a second opinion on Kim’s outlook, and you can bet that it won’t be quite the same as the one first handed down.
by S A
I wonder, has this been explored?
http://www.peregrineinc.com/pipeline/cotara-oncology.html
by Rob Falgiano
Some of the snarky insensitive comments are baffling. She’s 23 and she has aggressive cancer. What is wrong with some of you? Do you wish to tempt fate in your own lives? If the universe is karmic and quantum you are risking much. Best of luck and love to Kim.
by SpiritShout
People who think the body is all we are, are even more deluded than the loopy fundamentalists. This is a horrible waste of time and money…and very sad to boot.
by Gabriel
Tell me about it – they forget that we’re a body AND a brain ;).
by Mr.X
@Gabriel.The brain is clearly a part of the body!?
by Gabriel
Ignore me and my bad snarky jokes
by Mr.X
Yes, sir! ;) I think your joke wasn’t bad, and I think you’re right.Maybe we two are not “spirited” enough to understand those enlightened beings that are so judgemental (even though this exactly goes against the teachings of their respective “religion”/esoteric practice).They just want the candy: bla bla, I’mma be immortal.I wonder why they go to doctors ect.
What a waste of time, just die already and float space,time and the 42 other dimensions.
And this “even more deluded than the fundamentalists” from him his just bs rhetorics, since it can be said about every side in a discussion, it adds absolutely nothing and is superflous.And, it tries weakly to implicate he’s a neutral observer, when in fact he is member of the fundamentalists.Sort of how christians sometimes talk in the third person about their religion and it’s followers, but still say things that would only make sense when based on some of their teachings/axioms.
You see, I’m on your side concerning this topic.
Have a nice day:)
by Gabriel
Nice to hear another side of the story :) – you are right…this hypocrisy, in a sense, isn’t really intentional….it’s just that, again, it’s simply a product of the fact that their isn’t anything truly available that will allow us to fully overcome death and disease….so until that time, fundamentalists will continue to go to the doctor, continue to take care of themselves and so on, essentially fighting death and disease and trying to live as long as possible…whilst at the same time, continuing to convince themselves that death is a good thing and that we should embrace death because….well….boiled down, because it’s just too painful — and the idea of death being this stage where we can pass on and see all our loved ones again helps people cope; throw in morality and all this other fluff, and you essentially comtemporary religions.
Understanding this is why I don’t really try, or at least try to appear, that I’m necessarily against religion…not anymore then being against fundamentalists, luddites and so on….none of them are “bad” people by any means – but merely misguided….they simply need to remind themselves and remember, that when the day comes when we DO actually have practical means in the real world to achieve all the things that their philosophy talked about, they should embrace it…because otherwise, now they are abusing and hurting, not just other people, but themselves.
It’s fine if you believe in such things in a temporary-sense; that you are trying to hold out in some way until such means are really available…but when you actually now start to prefer to the philosophy to the actual real-world means…now you are just deluding yourselves — people are finally having available what your philosophy essentially advocated all along……why fight it?
by Gabriel
*sigh…..Look, let me put away my bad joke and try to approach this.
SpiritShout, what you are saying….is ridiculous – in the end, objectively, what other practical means exists that would give the greatest possible chance at life again? Say what you will about cryonics, but I’d say it fills that position better then burial and certainly more then cremation.
The idea that somehow fundamentalists make more sense is silly – those with traditional viewpoints believe in a convoluted belief that death is a good thing because somehow after you die, you will still ‘live’ and actually achieve transcendence and so on.
Occum’s Razor and rationality however remind me that life is life and death is death….also reminding me that, again, at the end of the day, what is there?
I really don’t want to get into a viewpoint war, but SpiritShout, I must ask…objectively and practically, what else is there? Regardless of time, personal beliefs and so on, what actually exists in real life in today’s day to at least give some sort of chance at life again other then cryonics? I’m not talking about augmentation or any such future-tech which may or may not come in the coming decades, but right here and now today, that can plausibly help this poor girl with the time she has left.
I understand the power of faith and belief is the most powerful cornerstone in our human experience….but you can’t substitute faith for evidence – hope is a wonderful thing, but you need to recognize where to place it, or you are deluding yourself…faith for faith’s sake is a trap – faith and logic don’t have to be mutually exclusive, that’s childish thinking – that’s the idea that atheists are walking amoral brains and theists are irrational preachers….reality is somewhat different; don’t make the mistake of letting faith dull objective reasoning.
The sad part is…I wouldn’t be surprised if many tried to steer this girl away from cryonics through religion or other beliefs, and while their intentions are good and provide a sense of hope….objectively, they are steering her away from the best and really only practical means available today of at least having a chance at life again. Attempts to argue otherwise because evolve into a war of “My truth is better then your truth!”…there is something wrong when somehow more then one objective way of looking at things.
Please enlighten me – how is this a waste of time and money? You know of another practical means available in this day and age that offers a better chance of living again? That doesn’t involve replacing evidence with faith, and somehow doubly damns yet praises life by rationalizing/preaching death?
(Just great – this IS a viewpoint war >_>)
by Shannon Blevins
Not trying to be mean, but she has the money for a whole body suspension $45.000.00 now she going to Alcor to get her head cut off for $80.000.00…… that money could be spent better on helping the next hardship case. The media believes she is getting her whole body suspended even the Discovery Channel I think they might shit if they find out she is getting her head cut off.
by Marcos Marin
whole body is cheaper?!
by Sno
While i hope the best for her, i can’t help but wonder, would it raise as much attention if she wasn’t a young cute girl ?
by Marcos Marin
She is not all that breathtaking, I don’t know what you’re talking about… unless you mean it as a relatively unique PR opportunity for Alcor. Then I agree. ;-)
by Mr.X
@ Sno: Your name has the potential to answer that question.I’ll help it lose some superflous weight:No.
by Marcos Marin
@Mr X.
Sadly, my post was pending approval for hours and now it will look like I replied to Sno AFTER you… This site should at least state the TIME of the posts if it want to keep censoring people…
by Editor
We don’t “censor.” WordPress uses Akismet to block spam, so posts that match its filter patterns are held for moderation and we don’t yet have 24-hour moderation.
by Marcos Marin
Great, then put old timers on a white list.
by Mr.X
@ Marcos
W3ll, y0u 607 0wn3d, n00b! b351d35, wh0 kn0w5 1f y0u r34lly p0573d b3f0r3 m3…
by Marcos Marin
haha, I was about to do just that, I’ve even identified the inner workings of the ‘spam’ filter.. but let’s see if diplomacy works first ; )
nah, I didn’t, the site still keeps its chronology straight even though not bothering to echo out.
by Gabriel
Cryonics isn’t really a mainstream thing and this is kurzweilai.net…. regardless of how she looks, I’m not sure in general how much attention this is receiving at all, unfortunately. I can’t say I really see her in other news outlets.
That’s all beside the point because she needs as much help as she can get. In general, if there is any reason why she isn’t receiving more attention, again, I feel it’s probably more because cryonics still isn’t a mainstream thing over what you feel for her looks.
Which is silly — until augmentations come around, it’s really the only last and final contingency for life; I certainly hope that some people are not donating simply because they disagree with the nature of cryonics: The girl’s life is what’s really important here.
by advancedatheist
Hey, I like that. Only I’d call Kim “La Belle au désert dormant.”
by Marcos Marin
is that your image of the future? :)
by Gabriel
I hope she has a happy ending — it would be too tragic if she ran out of time simply because of finances :(
by Marcos Marin
Her and billions more. I guess humans must be blind too…
by Mr.X
@Marcos: It’s called scope insensitivity.I guess, you already knew that.
Have a nice day.
by Marcos Marin
It would make me sound like I was devaluing said ‘tragedy’ whereas in fact I am on the contrary pointing out the full ‘scope’ of it. So yes, you are right, but no, I didn’t knew the concept by name, so thanks.
by DJSNOLA
This is so sad. Is there an update on how much is left to raise?
by Gorden Russell
I’ll head out to the Post Office for a money order on November 3, when my Social Security comes in.
We all have the best hopes for you, Kim.
by Marcos Marin
La Belle au bois dormant…
“A hundred years pass and a prince from another family spies the hidden castle during a hunting expedition. His attendants tell him differing stories regarding the happenings in the castle until an old man recounts his father’s words: within the castle lies a beautiful princess who is doomed to sleep for a hundred years, whereupon a king’s son is to come and awaken her.” — excerpt from Wikipedia.
Donate to our own real life fairy tale. :-) Feel free to use this analogy by the way…