CONSTRUCTION SITE

By Linda Chamberlain

This story appeared in the first issue of LifeQuest, May 1987, published by Linda Chamberlain and her husband, Fred Chamberlain, both of whom are now Life Members of CI. Linda was first certified as a CPR / First Aid Instructor in the early 1970's, as an EMT in 1996, and now is employed by a major hospital in its hand therapy unit, where rehabilitation of those with disabling hand injuries is the main focus. 

Her other life extension related activities have included serving as a Founding Director of the Southern California Aging Association and as a Director of the Longevity Foundation during the late 1970's, as the President of Manrise Corporation during its support of Alcor in the mid-1970's, as a Director of Trans Time, Inc. in the early 1980's, and as the President of the Lake Tahoe Life Extension Festival in the later 1980's, where an annual get-together was hosted for cryonicists of all groups.  Linda has been active in cryonics ever since she served as the Administrative Coordinator for the Los Angeles Third National Cryonics Conference in 1970, sponsored by the Cryonics Society of California.)

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"The most fascinating thing, which many of us can't stop marveling about, is how these little things make copies of themselves, almost like highly sophisticated viruses, yet we control their coming and going, their degree of proliferation, all by that computer on your cast."

"Dr. Van Deusen, are there limits on the kinds of repairs which can be done this way?"  the look in Bill's eyes revealed that his mind was racing with the possibilities. Carolanne stopped breathing as she realized what was going through his mind. "Fundamentally, no," answered Dr. Van Deusen.  "It's really a matter of engineering and the applications are mushrooming every day."

"What about things like cancer and heart disease?" asked Carolanne. "That's exactly why I had you brought down here today, Mr. and Mrs. Cross."  Van Deusen pulled a chair over next to Bill and sat down, facing them.  "The computer spheres inside your broken leg have been encountering a lot of plaque in your arteries, Mr. Cross.  We feel you should consider having this removed before it progresses any further."

"I have ather--ah—heart disease?" "Atherosclerosis.  Yes.  The accumulation of plaque in your arteries."

 "How," Bill swallowed.  "How bad is it?" "Your condition is not serious, yet, Mr. Cross," Dr. Van Deusen smiled reassuringly.  "We recommend preventive measures early so that it won't become serious." "Does that mean surgery?" asked Carolanne.

"No."  Van Deusen turned his head and looked up at the screen.  "Molecular repair machines can do that job, too, Mrs. Cross." "You mean," Bill said, "like turning bricks into sand, these repair machines just gobble up the plaques and I'm okay again?"

 Basically, yes.  Repair machines can seek out any biological structure which is not normal, or which is malfunctioning, and can either eliminate that structure, such as plaque, or, like a brick wall, rebuild it to make it work correctly again.  Molecular repair machines have almost replaced surgery and drugs in medicine.  This is 2053.  The day is not too far off, Mr. Cross, when surgery and drugs will be as distant as witch doctors' beads and rattles."

Carolanne's delicate hand was resting on Bill's shoulder; he could feel her tremble.  Bill placed one of his rough, large hands over hers and looked up at her before he turned his questioning eyes to Dr. Van Deusen.  Carolanne felt a bolt of anticipation, like a jolt from a hot 220 volt line run through her. "Dr. Van Deusen," Bill started in a very deliberate and serious tone of voice, "our two year old daughter, Bo, is dying of cancer.  Why weren't we told about these repair machines for curing her cancer?"

 Dr. Van Deusen took a deep breath.  "Repair machines are not perfect yet, Mr. Cross.  When you signed the treatment release to authorize their use for the repair of the tissues in your leg, you were giving us permission to do something very well proven out.  There are very few dangers with this procedure, but there are still limitations.

If the repair machines don't do the whole job, your body is strong otherwise and can finish the job.  The artery job is a little more complicated.  That's why we wanted you to see the simulation.  Cancer is even more difficult.  Perhaps your daughter's doctors want to try some more conventional approaches first.  Is your daughter in this hospital?" "No," said Bill, "but it looks like she should be.  Can you refer us to someone here?"

 "I'll be glad to have someone from that section of the hospital come by your room and see you," said Van Deusen. Carolanne cleared her throat. "What's the difference between a broken leg and cancer, I mean, as far as these repair machines are concerned?"

"The repair machines may be able to eliminate the tumor, but we still don't know exactly what causes every kind of cancer.  We can't guarantee that her cancer will not recur.  Although our repair machines are getting better every day, they're still quite slow.  Sometimes the disease process works faster at tearing down tissues than the repair machines can keep up with." "So,"  Bill continued, "sometimes a person with something like cancer dies anyway?" "Yes," said Dr. Van Deusen.

"But, if such a person were to be frozen," Bill's voice wavered, "these repair machines could be used after they were unfrozen to repair the freezing damage?" Tears were forming in Carolanne's eyes and her lips quivered as she held her breath and waited for Dr. Van Deusen's answer. "Yes," said Van Deusen.  "However, I'm an internist, not a specialist in cancer or cryopreservation of patients.  But if you'd like more details I could have one of the doctors from those sections come by your room, also."

"You do that here too?" Bill's face was on fire. "Yes.  This hospital is one of the leading facilities in the country on the use of molecular repair devices.  Our successes in that area have made some of us very positive about the prospects for patients who have themselves cryopreserved.  However, I should add that not all our colleagues share that belief."

"Doctor," Bill hesitated, "would Bo really have a chance at coming back if we had her frozen?" "Like I said, Mr. Cross, many of us are very positive about that.  But, I'm not an expert in that field.  I'll ask Dr. Killian from that section to drop over and see you."

Bill looked up at Carolanne and smiled.  "Yes, Dr. Van Deusen," he said, "we'd like that.  We'd like that very much!"