Parents Turn to Cryonics in Bid to Save Dying Toddler's Future
When Matheryn Naovaratpong, affectionately known as Einz, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer shortly after her second birthday, her parents, Sahatorn and Nareerat Naovaratpong, faced a heart-wrenching reality. Despite undergoing 10 surgeries, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, and 20 radiation therapy sessions, the disease proved unstoppable, leaving the family with no conventional medical options.
A Tragic Farewell and a Bold Decision
Einz spent her final months confined to a single room, sustained by a drip, as her parents grappled with the devastating prospect of her never growing up. On January 8, 2015, just before her third birthday, she passed away at home, surrounded by loved ones. However, in a move driven by desperation and hope, medical engineers Sahatorn and Nareerat had already resolved to cryogenically freeze her head and brain, making Einz the youngest person ever to undergo this procedure.
The goal is to preserve her brain until future scientific breakthroughs might allow for revival, potentially offering her a second chance at life, even if it takes centuries. This story gained international attention through the 2019 documentary Hope Frozen, directed by Pailin Wedel, which explores the intersection of philosophy, science, religion, and emotion.
Scientific Faith and Family Conflict
Sahatorn, a Buddhist, revealed that the idea of cryonics came to him on the first day of Einz's illness. He felt a deep internal conflict but clung to the hope that science could provide a solution. "I felt a real conflict in my heart about this idea, but I also needed to hold onto it," he shared with the BBC. The couple, who live in Thailand, have four children, all conceived via IVF after Nareerat had a hysterectomy, leading them to argue that if science helped bring their children into the world, it could also offer life beyond death.
They believe that if a cure for Einz's cancer is ever discovered, technological advances might allow her brain to be revived and placed in a new body. Sahatorn expressed confidence, stating, "As scientists, we are 100 percent confident this will happen one day - we just don't know when." Initially, family members were skeptical, but as Einz's condition worsened, they gradually supported the plan.
The Cryonic Process and Emotional Aftermath
In her final days, Einz was moved to an isolated hospital room where a standby team from the US was present. Immediately after her death was declared, they acted swiftly to cool her body and replace her bodily fluids with anti-freeze in a cryoprotection procedure, preventing severe tissue damage. Her brain was then extracted and stored at the Alcor facility in Arizona, USA, at a constant temperature of minus 196 °C.
While both parents plan to have their own bodies preserved at Alcor, they acknowledge that reuniting with Einz is unlikely. Sahatorn admitted, "We still feel our love for her. Although we fought to be strong, when she had passed away, we were no different from other families; we cried every day. We still need time to heal." This poignant tale highlights the lengths to which love and hope can drive human innovation in the face of unimaginable loss.
