This story is the property of Yi Ching and AI was not used to write it.
Pausing Life
Human cryopreservation after death was first offered in the late 1960s in an unproven hope that at some future time, with advances in medical science, it would be possible to revive the corpse and cure its cause of death.
Advances in cryogenics now enable the preservation and thawing of viable cells and tissues, notably ova and sperm. Small animals in the size range of worms have also been frozen and revived, apparently none the worse for their experience. Some feel it is only a matter of time before this can be achieved with larger animals.
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“I’m so very sorry that I have to tell you that the scans show that your cancer has progressed, Eve,” said her doctor, leaning forward in his chair towards his patient. He waited for his words to register.
Finally she asked, “How bad?”
“It’s stage 4,” he replied.
“What does that mean?” asked her husband Cyrus. “Give it to us straight.”
“It’s spread throughout Eve’s abdomen and it’s inoperable.”
“But I had so few symptoms!” she cried. “Just some fatigue and loss of weight, a slight loss of appetite, some nagging pain. that’s all.”
The doctor nodded sympathetically. “I know. It’s known as a silent cancer, often with few symptoms until it’s spread. I’m truly sorry.”
“How about treatment like chemo?” Eve asked.
“At present, chemotherapy is not curative for stage 4 cancers. Even experimental treatments have so far only extended life by months.”
“What have been the results?” asked Cyrus.
“Around two years. But remember, that’s an average.”
“Two years!” she turned to Cyrus. “And Jonah is just entering college. I won’t even see him graduate.” Eve sat silently, head bowed. Finally she dabbed away the tears and asked, “What is chemo like? Is it painful?”
“In all honesty, it won’t be easy,” said her doctor. “I can go over the side effects with you now if you wish. or wait till you’ve had a chance to absorb all of this.
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Cyrus Aurum was a pioneering AI billionaire who had been totally devoted to growing his company until, at age 37, he met and, much to his own amazement and that of those who knew him, crashed head over heels in love with Eve, a 25 year old graduate student and intern at his company. He remained totally committed and enthralled by her after 18 years of marriage. And now, with their son Jonah ready to enter college, this devastating diagnosis for Eve.
They sat side by side holding moist hands on the leather love seat in Eve’s study after returning home from the medical center where they had been presented the risk-benefit details of possible chemotherapy and even the alternative of doing nothing
“I can’t accept that you’ve got only two years or less to live,” Cyrus told Eve “Chemo sounds rough and isn’t curative. There’s got to be a better alternative. I love you. I just can’t even think about losing you.”
“I’ll do the chemo if it will let me live a little longer to at least see Jonah part way through college,” said Eve. “Maybe get a second opinion? Whatever we decide, we’ve got to let Jonah know.”
“I’ll put the staff on it to search. Just got to look at anything that might have a chance. Even the marginal and unorthodox stuff,” said Cyrus. “You can’t die. We love each other too much.”
“We told the doctor we’d let him know in two days,” said Eve. “And Jonah will be home soon.”
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Cyrus sat in his office and reviewed the search results. The regular medical and scientific literature, the presentations of early research at meetings, the hints in informal email communications between scientists. There was nothing that suggested a breakthrough or even the hope of one. He looked through the catalogue of non-traditional treatments from visualization to colonic purges to herbal teas. Nothing. But there was a small note about a PLC Foundation—“Pausing Life Cryogenics.” This was something different. Cyrus investigated and found that it was based in Saudi Arabia and he made inquiries.
“Yes, Mr. Aurum,” the voice on the other end of call said with a British accent. “The Foundation is dedicated to the cryogenic preservation of human life. If you are interested in pursuing this further, please fill out the questionnaire that we will send you today to evaluate your level of interest and to see if you qualify to receive further information.”
He dutifully filled in the information about Eve’s diagnosis and prognosis and her previous health history. There was also an extensive section inquiring into their financial situation and asking for a copy of their latest tax return. And also for three references. That gave Cyrus pause, but if there was a chance that the Foundation could help Eve, why not. And then he waited impatiently for a reply.
Two days later, the reply came. “Good news Mr. Aurum,” Your wife qualifies for consideration.”
Qualifies? Consideration? And references? thought Cyrus. Is this a medical institution or a very exclusive private club? Whoever they are and what ever they do, they work quickly.
The voice continued, “Our representative will fly out to meet with you and your wife tomorrow. Would two PM your time be satisfactory?”
“Very satisfactory,” Cyrus said, surprised and gratified at how quickly things were developing. “And he will be able to answer all our questions?”
“Yes, she will be able to. I hope you will find that our services will meet your wife’s needs.”
She turned out to be an impeccably dressed and coifed attractive mid-thirties Arabic woman named Aaliyah with a firm handshake. They sat down in the living room. She declined coffee but took a cookie.
“First let give you background on the PLC Foundation,” she began. “As you are aware, cryogenic preservation of persons after death has been done for many years, in the hope that at some future time, when science has developed a cure for the person’s cause of death, that person can be revived and treated successfully. To date, no one has been revived.”
“Researchers in Saudi Arabia began to look for a better way. They began by first cryopreserving small animals such as mice, then progressing to larger animals such as dogs and apes and successfully reviving them. Before preceding further, five men who had been condemned to death for various offenses were given the opportunity to volunteer to be cryopreserved and revived and to be pardoned for their crimes if they survived. All five did. Their brain functions were tested before and afterwards and found to be fully intact. Don’t look so shocked, Mrs. Aurum. These men would have been beheaded. Instead they were given a chance to serve science, repay society, and live.”
“Before you go further, I’m amaze that none of this has appeared anywhere in the scientific community,” Cyrus said. “Why?”
“Our king prefers to not publicize this for the present but to honor the privacy of our clients,” said Aaliyah. “We usually receive clients through word of mouth by personal referral. That’s why when your unsolicited inquiry arrived, it caused some confusion and you had to be carefully vetted. And the scientists and staff are extremely well compensated to keep their secrets. Any other questions at this time before I continue?”
Cyrus and Eve shook their heads ‘no.’
“Cryopreservation after death even when done quickly runs the risk that the process of organ breakdown and decay has already begun. PLC takes the approach of cryopreserving the living body to avoid postmortem damage.”
“You mean that if I did this I would be frozen while still alive?” Eve asked.
“In a word, yes. But let me first describe how this is done”
Aaliyah concluded her presentation by discussing the financial requirements. “If you decide to proceed with PLC We will come for you by private jet and fly you to Riyadh. From there you will be taken by helicopter to the secret underground PLC site in the desert where your cryopreservation will take place and where you will be stay until the time of your awakening. Should you decide not to proceed, you will be asked to sign a non-disclosure document and of course there would be serious consequences if that agreement were broken.”
“No wonder they wanted your financial information,” commented Eve, after Aaliyah left. “Am I really worth it?”
Cyrus kissed her gently in reply.
Later that evening, Cyrus said, “I’ll go along with what ever you decide.”
“Then I will do it, the cryo,” said Eve. “It’s an uncertain chance, but the only one I have. To put my life on hold with the expectation that a cure will be found.”
Cyrus had thought about what he would do if she decided to be frozen. To face life without her was unthinkable. He knew he would have been devastated if she had died during chemo. But now she would still be alive with PLC. There was no question in his mind. “I will be frozen with you,” he declared. “To also put my life on hold until we are both awakened.”
“Cyrus, I know how much you love me to do this. But you need to stay behind for Jonah’s sake,” said Eve. “It’s unfair that he loses both of us just as he starts life. He will need you as he goes through college.”
“I don’t want to live without you, Eve.”
“You have to. Please, for Jonah. Take care of our son.”
Cyrus knew that she was right, even as his heart ached. Finally he said, “I’ll stay with Jonah until he graduates from college in four years. Then I will join you.” I’ll be fifty-nine then, almost an old man, while you will still be forty-three, he thought.
“You might meet someone else during that time. If you do, I’ll understand,” Eve said.
“It’s always been you. Only you, Eve. And I will come to join you.”
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They had already told Jonah of Eve’s diagnosis and the certainty of her death with the current state of medical treatment. Now they told him about their decision to proceed with PLC.
“I will have a chance with them, Jonah,” Eve said. “Maybe slim, but a chance. And this way, I won’t be dead, just away. And Dad will be with you while I am gone.”
“How long will that be Mom?” asked Jonah.
“No one knows. It depends on when a cure for my cancer is found and then they will revive me to be cured and then we will be together again.”
“Dad, and you’ll stay while I’m in college? And then you will be frozen with Mom?”
“Yes, that’s the plan. I hope you can understand that it’s not that I don’t love you. It’s just that I love Mom and want to be with her.”
“No, I understand. Will I be able to visit both of you?” Jonah asked, thinking I hope I can someday find a woman whom I will love as much as you love Mom and who will love me as Mom loves you.
“As our son, you’ll be allowed to be there when we are first cryopreserved. And you’ll be notified when we are restored and can be present,” Cyrus said. “But otherwise no.”
“So I could still be in college or be an old man before that happens.” Jonah said.
“I hope that it will be the former and not the latter,” said Eve.
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A week later, accompanied by Aaliyah, they were aboard a black, luxuriously appointed private jet to Riyadh. Then whisked by helicopter out over the desert, touching down on a helipad seemingly in the middle of nowhere. An entrance appeared in the side of a dune and a van drove out to the helicopter. Aaliyah led them aboard and the van retuned to the entrance as the helicopter prepared to leave. An elevator took them down into the site. After introductions and instructions, Cyrus and Jonah were offered the opportunity to watch Eve undergo the cryo process. Jonah could not bring himself to watch and declined, but Cyrus did. Before being wheeled into the operating room, Eve kissed and held her son for a long time, telling him, “I’ll see you again, okay? Dad will be with you. Study hard in college. Remember I love you.”
Speechless, he could only nod yes.
She kissed and held Cyrus, saying “I love you so very much. Take care of Jonah. We will waken together.”
Jonah fidgeted in the waiting area, too nervous to watch television programs from around the world or to read or to use the computers or play the games that were available. He had no appetite, but forced himself to nibble at the food that was brought to him. After almost a day, Cyrus came for him when the cryo process was complete.
They donned down parkas, gloves, and insulated boots before entering the sub-zero temperature family viewing area to see Eve before she was placed into her alcove. She lay on her back in a glass enclosure, nude body as pale, as beautiful, and as frozen-hard as a marble statue, her blood having been drained and replaced with preservative fluid, to be stored separately and reinfused on awakening. Skin smoothed of all wrinkles, young again, appearing as if she were quietly asleep. Both men gazed at her in awe, lost in their own thoughts
Bless you, Mom, I love you, Jonah thought, choking up. I pray they find your cure soon.
Sleep well Love, you are so beautiful, and I will come to join you in four years, thought Cyrus
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The Long and The Short of It 