I recently found out that I am one of two confirmed people in western New York who has signed on, or is in the process of enrolling with, a cryonics provider.

I tried to enroll with one provider late last fall.

However, the insurance carrier which was to have funded my procedure turned me down, because of a couple of minor health issues.

So, I went to another group, restructured my group policy (portable)and changed beneficiaries.

My HR manager is slow in getting this material ready and mailed on company letterhead to my provider in order for my agreement to be in force.

I have an older sister who initially said go ahead and do it if it floats my boat.

Just a few weeks ago, however, she suggested, "why don't you wait 20 years? You're still healthy."

She doesn't get it.

My youngest brother, a firefighter, and his wife, a nurse, thinks they know more about cryonics rescue procedures and contracts than anyone in the field.

He thought there were too many loopholes to allow for burial or cremation if something went wrong (interference by third-party, funding, etc.).

They both think it would be impossible to save someone for cooldown and preservation (they still believe in the six-minute lag between cessation of heartbeat and brain damage).

Neither one would sign as a witness to any of my documents.

The same with my father (Mr. "Three Score and Ten Years", to use a biblical phrase), who was at the local mortuary when I talked to the mortician about cooldown and transport procedure.

He first signed as a witness and asked the same questions I asked the mortician in January.

He wouldn't get it and erased his name from the document.

My youngest sister is the only one who supports me on this issue.

She now serves as my power of attorney.

It seems most of my family (I haven't talked to all of them, as they have other things to do) wants me either in box or in ashes.

I signed papers expressing my wishes with an attorney, and now have to finalize funding.

Several "friends" have turned their backs on me, because of my interest in life extension through cryonics.

What crime is there in wanting more life?


P.S.: my father didn't go to church until after 9/11/01.

When we were kids, he often refused to give a quarter to my younger sister so she could donate to the local church.

Hi Bill,

You have mentioned before that you tried to enrol with a cryonics provider and had a problem with insurance, and switched cryonics providers. That makes no sense. Life insurance is totally separate from cryonics providers. Old policies, existing policies, new policies - all can be used with any cryonics provider. I don't understand that part of your problem at all.

You go on to mention family support issues. I am generally familiar with both Alcor and CI and their application processes. Neither, to my knowledge, requires your family to do anything. One or both have forms that your family can sign off on, pledging their support if you deanimate (sorry Jon!), but I don't think either org requires them before they approve your application. You most certainly do not have to have family members sign as witnesses to your documents. Just go to a notary public and call in advance to see if they have enough people on hand to also sign as witnesses. The better ones do, so a friend tells me who has gone thru all this paperwork hassle. Some people have friends who will do it too; some don't; no biggie. Some people live near cryonics support groups where there are people who will help as witnesses; some don't; again no biggie.

If you have former friends who don't like you any more because of cryonics, I'd say good riddance.

In your state is your father, or your siblings, your "next of kin"? Or do you have a spouse or children? Find out who your next of kin is - they are the ones who you need to get advance statements of support from, for they are the ones who can determine the disposition of your body after death pronouncement. Your don't want them holding up your cryonics provider by way of court battles.

Meanwhile, take your time. Unless you have some urgent health problem, you have plenty of time. As I covered in my other post and I think you did not "get," the current cryonics providers are quite ill-equipped to get you any timely life-saving help should you suffer a fatal accident. I assume that is all you are trying to prepare so far in advance for, right?

Having said that, I will reiterate that cryonics companies do need your support, and if it doesn't cost you much or anything to sign up now with insurance, sure, go ahead. In doing so though, you are giving your tacit approval of their current standby/stabilization capabilities, which are piss-poor, and you are giving them no reason to question their status quo or to make needed changes. It's your decision what to do on that, and I do not criticize anyone for theirs, as I expect them not to do so for mine.

Best wishes,

FD

FD:


I tried to sign with Alcor for full-body ($180K).

I worked with an advisor who tried to set up a policy for $250K with AIG.

AIG turned me down, because of some stress-related episode in February (grieving process).

So, I changed the beneficiary on my group plan and went with CI.

As for family, my younger sister signed the next-of-kin release form.
Her boyfriend and her daughetr signed as witnesses.

As for the rest of my family, at least those with whom I addressed this issue, and those "friends" I lost, they'd rather see me in the dirt on in ashes.

They don't respect my wishes.

I felt it practical to set up my arrangements ASAP so, if something were to happen, I would be covered.

I understand now about the insurance - yes, the amount you can get/have can certainly make a difference.

I surmise that your insurance amount is not large enough to also cover Suspended Animation standby service, and that you are arranging with a local mortician? That could actually be a better option than the standby service of SA or Alcor, if the mortician is properly advised, equipped, and willing. In many cases they could certainly get to you with help, a lot faster than a standby team trying to fly or drive in from afar, could. That speed of response is probably worth a lot more than more sophisticated procedures a cryonics team would do, up to a day later.

If indeed you are going for SA's services, I feel in trying to add it all up that SA does have a bit of an edge on Alcor's. At least, SA recently demonstrated that they have capability on both coasts. That doesn't help you much either way in your location, of course.

Cheers,

FD

My mortician is less than 10 miles from my home.

I spoke with him about this issue in January.

He said he has a Ziegler Box and a vinyl bag available.

I'm sure he can get ice.

I did not see a "thumper" in his office.

I gave him some material from CI's web site.

Bill, just a hint. To make your posts appear right away, always log in to Network 54 before posting. An owner/moderator has to approve posts made without a login, before they show up on the board.

I talked to my mortician and gave him information from CI's web site in January.

He said he can get a Ziegler box, ice and a vinyl bag.

I don't recall whether he has a "thumper."

I'm not sure whether he is legally allowed to administer heparin.