X-Message-Number: 4218
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: my condition
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 1995 11:15:50 -0700 (PDT)

This message is in response to someone who asked about the fate of "the 
mathematician who sued to be suspended prior to his legal death". It was
originally answered by Ben Best.

Yes, here is a message from Thomas Donaldson himself. As most people on the 
net (that is, Cryonet) know, I am a fairly active contributor. Because of the
tumor I also have seizures, which continue despite medication, and some
(but clearly not large) loss of memory, particularly for names. I can be much
more coherent nowadays in writing than I would be in person (we may use 
somewhat different brain areas for that, too).

Before the tumor I had the foresight to get a private insurance policy against
disability, which still forms my main source of income. (I might well be on
the street if I hadn't done that). When we launched the lawsuit, we were going
on statistics which suggested that I had an 80% chance of dying from the tumor.

And so I have ended up among the lucky 20%. And despite all the problems that
my brain tumor has caused for me, I am very happy to be alive.

Subject: the need for cryonics research NOW

To the comments of Paul Wakfer and Saul Kent about Merkle's attitudes, I can 
only say a big AMEN! Ralph Merkle seems to be among those who believe that 
Nanotechnology can solve all problems. He is wrong and they are wrong, and 
I think that anyone who seriously studies how brains work (so far as we 
understand it) and the damage caused by current procedures would strongly
agree with Wakfer and Kent --- and me, too. 

			Long long life to all,

			    Thomas Donaldson


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