A 23-year-old who died of brain cancer in January raised enough money before her death to pay for her own cryonic preservation.
Truman State neuroscience student Kim Suozzi was diagnosed in March 2011 with recurrent Glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain cancer, according to the Society for Venturism, a pro-cryonics nonprofit.
In August 2012, when Suozzi's life expectancy was only three to six months, the Missouri resident wrote on her blog that her final wish was to be cryogenically preserved. This would mean that, after her death, her body would be preserved at an extremely low temperature until the day when technology had advanced enough to revive her and treat her brain cancer.
She wrote on her blog:
Many of you know that I’m agnostic; I don’t have any clue what happens when you die, but have no reason to think that my consciousness will continue on after death. The only thing that I can think to make me feel a little more at ease with my death is to secure cryopreservation plans on the off-chance that they figure out how to revive people in the future. The way I see it, it’s a better bet than decomposing or getting cremated.
Suozzi went on to explain that she did not have "even close to the finances" she needed for the service -- a figure she quoted at $30,000 - $35,000 when the procedure was performed through the Cryonics Institute.
That same month, Suozzi posted about her predicament on Reddit. She noted that in earlier months, other Redditors had wanted to start a fundraiser to aid her in "doing fun things" before she died. "I am hoping that redditors will still have some interest in helping me even if it's not going towards vacation or skydiving," she wrote. "Cryopreservation is sincerely what will bring me the most peace in death."
She raised at least $2,100 through donations on Reddit. Additionally, the Society for Venturism set up a fund for Suozzi's cryopreservation. The group raised $27,000 over the course of one week, according to io9.
The Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a nonprofit cryonics organization, also set up a donations page for Suozzi's cryopreservation. This organization quoted the cost as $80,000, though the donation page notes that cost would be "reduced" by Suozzi relocating closer to the Scottsdale, Ariz. facility, which she planned to do once she secured the necessary funds.
Ultimately, Suozzi raised enough money to cover the procedure. She passed away on January 17, and was transported to the Alcor facility for cryopreservation that same day, according to the Alcor website.
CORRECTION: A previous photo caption incorrectly stated that Suozzi died in January 2012. She died in January 2013.