In a story straight out of science fiction, a 14-year-old girl was frozen right after her death in an attempt to eventually find a way to bring her back to life.
It was her dying wish
The 14-year-old girl from Britain, only known as JS, was frozen inside a large vat at the Cryonics Institute in the USA. It was her dying wish to be cryogenically frozen, in an attempt at a second life someday in the future. Her death was due to cancer.
She writes:
“I have been asked to explain why I want this unusual thing done. I’m only 14 years old and I don’t want to die, but I know I am going to. I think being cryo‐preserved gives me a chance to be cured and woken up, even in hundreds of years’ time. I don’t want to be buried underground. I want to live and live longer and I think that in the future they might find a cure for my cancer and wake me up. I want to have this chance. This is my wish.”
While her mother was supportive of her wish, her father, who is also suffering from cancer was against it. He said that Cryonics Institute is “taking advantage of vulnerable people.” He adds that he’s worried that someday his daughter might wake up, but in a foreign country, and without any known relatives.
A court finally ruled in favor of the little girl’s dying wish, and her body is currently in the Cryonics Institute in the United States.
What is cryopreservation?
The little girl’s choice is a controversial one, as it’s still a very controversial practice which has yet to be proven.
Most people that opt for cryopreservation are those who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness; they wish to be frozen until science has advanced far enough so that they can be cured far in the future.
The process itself costs around $45,000, and involves preserving the body inside a vat of liquid nitrogen to slowly freeze it. The temperatures are constantly monitored, and the bodies are kept frozen until a way to revive them has been found.
Currently, reviving the frozen bodies is impossible, as no method has been developed to reverse the cell damage that subzero temperatures cause.
Go to the next page to learn more about coping with loss.
Coming to terms with your mortality
Death is a hard reality of life. Everyone dies, and sooner or later, we’ll have to face our mortality. For some people, the reality of death will come sooner than expected, such as for those diagnosed with terminal illness.
While nothing we do can completely prepare us to face death, or that of a loved one, we can still take some steps to prepare for our passing:
- Make things right. Talk to family members or friends that you’re no longer on speaking terms with. Say sorry to people that you might have hurt, make your family feel loved and appreciated. It’s better to leave this mortal coil and pass away surrounded by friends rather than enemies.
- Bring people back into your life. There are people in our lives that we might have pushed away, or people that we have cut ties with. It’s important to try and bring those people back into our lives before we pass away, so that we can leave them good memories.
- Plan for your passing. Make funeral plans and settle your finances. You should also take the time to write down your last will and testament. It might seem morbid, but that’s the reality of life. If you want, you can also create a scrapbook of your memories so that your loved ones can remember you once you pass away.
- Talk to a loved one. If you feel anxious, terrified, or alone, talk to a loved one. Make the most of the time that you have left here on earth by sharing experiences with people you love and let them know that they’re appreciated.
- It’s okay to be afraid. Everyone is afraid of dying. If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness, it’s totally fine to be afraid. Understand that everyone will eventually have to face death, and it’s inevitable in everyone’s life
- Have a living funeral. It might seem morbid to some, but for people facing death, having a living funeral is a good way to help you handle your passing. A living funeral is basically having a funeral before you pass away, so that you and your loved ones can celebrate your life while you’re still here.
- Write letters to your loved ones. If there are some things that are difficult to say in person, you can give your loved ones letters or notes to tell them how you feel. The act of writing is cathartic in itself, and it will make you feel more at ease.
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, huffingtonpost.com, webmd.com, engadget.com
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