EBOLA, HOW A FOREIGN VIRUS BECAME FAMOUS IN AMERICA

Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the host dies, or the virus dies, or both die.

~Gore Vidal

As you are reading this, there have probably been yet even more changes to procedure and protocol issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the governmental agencies associated with trying to deal with the spread of the Ebola virus in the United States and abroad. 

While I know that there is non-stop Ebola information constantly being spewed from the television twenty-four hours a day, I wanted to write a bit about it to provide a brief synopsis of the more significant factual events that have unfolded and because all that is happening reminds me of just about every “contamination” and “virus” movie I have even seen---all which usually have bad endings.

 The following is a summary of key events that should help bring you up to date:

The man who entered Texas (now deceased) with that was diagnosed with Ebola has been identified as Thomas Eric Duncan.  The NY Times reports that Duncan came into contact with a woman in Liberia who had Ebola and subsequently contracted the virus.  Mr. Duncan, in trying to help a pregnant woman who was not accepted by any hospitals in Liberia, ended up dying due to his efforts to try and save her and her unborn baby.

Contrary to what most people think, Ebola is not airborne and can only be passed along from one person to the next through direct contact of body fluids, needles, or infected animals.  Globalnews.ca reports that you are not contagious until you start experiencing symptoms, which is why authorities are not overly worried about the passengers on the plane that traveled with Duncan from Liberia.  Since he was not sick at the time or experiencing symptoms, he should not have been contagious according to some reports; however, opinions do seem to vary from source to source about every aspect of Ebola.

According to hotair.com, the Whitehouse commented recently, and rather cavalierly, that they have no plans to stop flights from Liberia.  Their reasoning is that since passengers have no symptoms while getting on flights, there is no reason to stop them since they are not contagious unless symptoms are present.  The only problem with this plan is we could have reoccurrences of the Duncan case.  Duncan showed no symptoms of illness when boarding his flight from Liberia to Texas, but developed his symptoms later on after his arrival to the United States.

  According to CNN, now at least two states (New York and New Jersey) are requiring health care workers returning from West Africa to be quarantined. However, as of yet, there is no detailed information regarding where they are going to be kept, who is in charge, who is going to pay, and many other practical issues related to the logistics of isolating someone for twenty-one days.

 The White House also made comments assuring that preparations are being made to educate and train medical professionals on the topic of Ebola.  Since two medical professionals located in Dallas, who treated Duncan, have already gotten sick, I am not sure how great the training and preparation for a disease as serious as Ebola is in our country. I hope it gets better going forward.  

 From the looks of it, the hospital in Texas had no idea what it was doing and dangerously and recklessly exposed these two ladies to a virus of which it obviously does not understand.  Fortunately, it appears that one of the nurses has made a full recovery and the other nurse seems to be recovering as well, but unfortunately, now a doctor who was volunteering his services abroad, unknowingly brought the disease with him just this past week.

Although it seems like the United States could legally block flights from Liberia, many disagree that this would be the right decision.  Alipac.us reports that that the CDC “believes” that blocking flights will not ultimately protect us from Ebola.  The CDC steadfastly maintains that the only way to stop the outbreak is by stopping it at its source-West Africa.  I’m not really certain I understand this logic.

If a virus is spreading like wildfire through a country, how can it not be helpful to prevent those traveling from the wildfire into the United States?  Seems like even avoiding a potential spark in the United States could only be an upside, but I am not a doctor.  I understand and agree that the “source” of the illness cannot be ignored and that we need to try and get things under control in West Africa, but I strongly believe that we should not be letting scores of potentially ill people into our country so easily.

Duncan’s case has heightened fear and people are now apparently stepping up to help isolate the virus in Africa and stop it from spreading more.  CNN claims that critics still say that officials have been generally (and typically) slow in their response to this epidemic in Africa.  CNN also reports that troops have landed in Africa to help fight the fight against Ebola and have already seen improvements. 

Testing labs have been opened up and people suspected of having Ebola are getting results much faster and those who do not test positive for the virus are spending less time in isolation than before.  They are also building a hospital to help care for those diagnosed with the virus.  This source also explains that President Obama has agreed to send 4,000 troops to Africa to help fight Ebola.

Duncan’s story seems like the classic case of human error and failure to pay attention that leads to catastrophe. Duncan initially went to the emergency room with virus like symptoms and was discharged with antibiotics. Whether this delay ended up costing him his life, will be debated in the coming months.  He did not recover and ended up at the emergency room again, this time in an ambulance.  He told the treating nurse he was from Liberia and had recently come to Texas from Liberia, but this information was amazingly not given to those making the decision of what would be done with him.

 CNN explains that this mistake by hospital staff was crucial and could have opened up infection to others.   Many people now do not want to travel to that hospital in Dallas and surrounding hospitals are experiencing overcrowding.  I can’t say that I blame the public. So far, the Texas hospital has shown nothing but ineptitude and a lack of understanding of the virus. One can only hope that lessons are learned from its numerous mistakes.

Earlier this year, a missionary doctor was diagnosed with Ebola, but recovered thanks to another American Ebola survivor who donated blood with Ebola antibodies according to abcnew.go.com.  The doctor also received an experimental drug.  The doctor is still recovering, but the first doctor flown into the United States for treatment (who donated the blood) did recover here in the United States.  So the good news is that if properly treated, people can survive this awful virus.  CNN reports that eight out of nine patients treated for Ebola in the United States have survived. 

So how was this man able to recover from Ebola if so many other people are dying by the thousands around the world?  The answer may be as simple as a lack of resources.  Because Ebola is a virus and attacks the immune system, remaining hydrated and receiving around the clock care is important.  This is obviously not something that all countries across the world have the resources to accomplish, especially in places like West Africa.  In Africa people are being taken to camps and are literally being left for dead due to fear and a lack of resources to help the ill.

It has always troubled me how a continent like Africa, with its immense natural resources (diamonds, gold, oil) has been so exploited and corrupted to the point that it is literally stuck in time. If the natural resources of this country were used for the benefit of the people who live there, there is no doubt in my mind that Africa would be one of the richest continents on the earth. Instead, it has been robbed and pillaged to the point that thousands die annually due to simple lack of basic health services and a lack of knowledge concerning disease and contamination.

Now that Duncan has died, more controversy has come about regarding his personal belongings and where they will be discarded.  Theblaze.com reports that Louisiana has a landfill specializing in hazardous waste, but the state refuses to allow his belongings be dumped there.  The Attorney General of Louisiana claims that although they sympathize with Ebola and the victims the virus has claimed, their residents’ health is important and he will seek a restraining order so that the remains cannot be brought into the state. 

He also comments that they want to take as much caution as possible when it comes to this “deadly virus.”  While it does seem like a bit of an overreaction, one cannot really blame the Attorney General given the media storm (which feeds on disseminating fear) that has whipped people into major Ebola panic. The constantly changing information that is published daily concerning the virus also has not been helpful or calming.

Zmapp is one of these experimental medicines that are being tested for use in connection with Ebola according to www.cdc.gov.  The medicine has not been tested among humans yet and it is too early to tell if the medicine is at all effective to fight against the disease.  They do not explain why only a few doses have been developed, but claim that all available doses have been distributed.  They do say that they do not have the “capacity” to produce large quantities of the drug and it will be hard to tell if victims of Ebola in Africa will be receiving Zmapp.

Ashoka Mukpo, a freelance journalist who was working with NBC in Liberia on the Ebola story was diagnosed with Ebola and brought back to the United States for treatment according to online.wsj.com.  He checked himself into a tent hospital with a fever.  This source also reports that according to a treating doctor, the levels of virus in his system were low, so his chances of recovery were good.  He apparently has now recovered from Ebola and has been released from the hospital.  The difference in this case from Duncan’s is that Mukpo is not certain how he contracted the virus.  He remembers being splashed in the face with an unidentifiable liquid as he helped a taxi driver clean a car that had carried an Ebola patient.  He was also standing near some people who were waiting to receive medical attention at a local clinic. 

A nurse who recently returned home to Australia from working in Sierra Leone treating patients with Ebola suffered an Ebola scare but has been cleared according to theguardian.com.  She tested negative twice for the virus and was sent home. Due to the scare that she suffered, she is urging that more be done to fight this virus at its core.  The Australian government, in what can only be seen as an embarrassment and discredit to its country, refuses to send any manpower to help with the Ebola outbreak----but at least has given 18 million dollars in somewhat of an effort to help.

The Nurses Union (NNU) held a conference regarding Ebola says msnbc.com.  They are outraged and claim that they have been lied to about how to approach situations when treating Ebola patients.  The NNU claims that nurses all over the country have reached out to try and prepare for possibly treating patients diagnosed with Ebola and say they have been completely ignored. 

These new cases have prompted many U.S. airports to up the screening process of people entering the United States from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea (the three countries most heavily affected by Ebola) says CBS News.  The source explains that of the estimated 150 travelers entering on a daily basis from these three countries, 95% of them enter into the same five airports.  These airports will begin taking temperatures of all people landing.  Quarantine areas have also been implemented in these airports to be used if necessary. 

President Obama has appointed a new “Ebola Czar,” which has created even more controversy.  According to CNN Rob Klain has been appointed, who has no medical or infectious disease background at all.  Klain is a former Chief to Staff to Vice-Presidents Biden and Gore.  Many are outraged at the President’s response.  They claim that Klain’s complete lack of experience in the health care field makes it ridiculous to have him acting as an Ebola Czar.  I have to say, it is a bit strange that we are attempting to quell the outbreak of a deadly viral outbreak, and the person “directing” matters is not even a trained doctor or scientist, but a lawyer who has spent most of his career as a political strategist? I’m guessing there is some rationale for this, but nothing comes to mind at the moment. Also, it appears that he has been so low key thus far that nobody has really heard much of anything from him, much less any plan on dealing with Ebola.

According to khon2.com, the CDC has issued new protocol to deal with Ebola.  Treating medical staff will wear gear with no skin showing after the nurses who treated Duncan had their necks exposed while treating him.  They claim that having skin showing is a vulnerability and they are now doing everything they can to correct this issue.

Vox.com reports that the virus began in Guinea and traveled to Liberia and Sierra Leone because of people who travel frequently across the borders to markets.  These three countries have remained at the higher risk for Ebola, but the virus has spread to other African countries as well including Nigeria and Senegal.  This source reports that these countries have since been stabilized, but the battle continues to rage in West Africa. 

So there you have it in a nutshell. Bottom line is that it has become painfully and fatally obvious that our country was not ready to deal with the Ebola virus. There is absolutely no justifiable reason that a hospital, knowing the deadly effectiveness of which Ebola can spread, allowed two of its healthcare workers to get the disease. Now we have a lawyer and political advisor acting as our new “Ebola Czar.” God help us all.

 I hope that we are able to treat and isolate this terrible virus so that no more lives are senselessly lost either here or abroad.  Like I mentioned previously, I have seen this movie before many times, and it never has a positive ending unless swift, decisive, and intelligent actions take place immediately.

~Leonardo G. Renaud

From Tragedy and Despair, Maybe Some Enlightenment Emerges?

Now there's some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
the tears of a clown
When there's no one around

~Smokey Robinson

Robin Williams, a very respected and talented actor/comedian, recently committed suicide after a long battle with cocaine, alcohol, and depression.  When I heard that he had hanged himself, I was in such shock and felt terrible for the man who has made me laugh so many times throughout my life.  All I can say is there are but a handful of comedians who were so good at the brutal gladiator pit of stand up comedy as well as dramatic movie roles as well.  The world has suffered a tremendous loss.  A shining star that comes but once every few lifetimes in our world is now gone forever.  How could this have happened to, what on the surface, appeared like such a happy and successful man? For God’s sake, the man was absolutely hilarious, why would such a funny and brilliant person ever feel they had no other options left in this world, but to die at their own hands?

It turns out that, unfortunately, depression and other mental illnesses are extremely prevalent in our society, with over 22% of Americans over the age of 18 suffering from some type of mental disorder according to depressionperception.com.  This is equal to over 46 million individuals.  This same source also indicates that 90% of suicide victims in the United States suffer from a mental disorder that is diagnosable, demonstrating how the two can be related.  Impulse control disorders are predominant as well, affecting over 24% of the population according to psychiatrictimes.com.  It also reports that many impulse control disorders can be more common among men than women. 

Robin Williams specifically suffered from depression, as do many other suicide victims says the Washington Post.  His battle against alcohol and cocaine were also ongoing throughout his life.  This source also outlines Williams’ entrances to rehab including a stay about two months ago, and another reported back in 2006.  He entered rehab in 2006 after a relapse in his alcohol addiction after being sober for twenty years.  The article goes on to explain how depression was a long fought battle for Williams’ as it is for many. 

Depression is not always a disorder that can be treated and expected to simply go away.  Many people who suffer from depression, although they seek help, continue to endure it their entire lives. It is something akin to being an alcoholic, once you are an alcoholic, you are for the rest of your life because any certain trigger, crisis, or pressure point can cause a sober person to go right back to alcohol no matter how many years of sobriety they have managed to live.  It also explains how suicides are normally extremely impulsive acts that are prompted by depression and other mental disorders. 

An article from aol.com discusses another recent battle with alcoholism and mental disorder.  Elizabeth Vargas, (an ABC News Reporter) recently checked herself into rehab due to her ongoing battle with the disease of alcoholism.  Vargas claims that the reason she has continuously turned to alcohol is due to panic attacks and anxiety that she has suffered from since childhood.  Cases like these, are way too familiar and the number of people who self-medicate is extreme because the treatments that we have readily available to people such as Vargas, for some reason, just don’t seem to be working in the long run. 

According to Communities Digital News, depression is so common among comedians that the Hollywood Laugh Factory has an office where therapists are available for the comedians that perform. Isn’t it ironic that the highly intelligent and hilarious people who make us laugh the hardest, often suffer the worst cases of depression?  The source also reports that the eccentric behavior of individuals such as Robin Williams and other comedians often stems from bipolar disorder (an illness with which Williams had also been diagnosed).  Many other famous people have suffered from mental illness, depression being the most common, such as Winston Churchill, Billy Joel, Owen Wilson, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Princess Diana.  

A troubling part of this is that there is such a negative stigma associated with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental illness. This causes people to try and ignore the seriousness of these illnesses and the importance of seeking treatment for what can become a deadly illness.  

ABC News describes the close tie between depression and substance abuse.  The two ailments occur at a tremendously high rate in combination with each other.  Depression can lead to substance abuse, with individuals trying to find ways to cope when treatment is either ineffective or not readily available.  Substance abuse can also lead to depression, creating a very closely and many times deadly relationship between the two. 

Williams had access to treatment and the means to attend rehab for this terrible disorder which sadly still was not enough, but many do not share the same ability to treatment and have nowhere to turn.  Mentalillnesspolicy.org states that 250,000 of the reported 744,000 homeless individuals suffer from some type of untreated psychiatric illness, and this number only continues to escalate.  So the next time you are in a bad mood and you think a homeless person should just “get a job,” keep in mind that most people in the right frame of mind would probably rather not live on the street and beg for their meals.  The homeless person’s mental and physical health is generally far worse than those with homes.  Many of those who become homeless battle some type of mental disorder and have no means to treatment.  The lack of treatment, in turn makes it harder for them to function and carry out every day lives.

More and more people are being diagnosed with disorders, many of which are heavily medicated, which in some cases cause extreme side effects.  Many children and adolescents suffer from ADD and ADHD specifically and there has been a rise in the number of children and adolescents being diagnosed recently.  Additudemag.com reports that 1 to 3 children in every classroom of 30 students suffer from ADHD/ADD.  This source reports a laundry list of consequences that these children suffer including but not limited to defiance, serious learning problems, comprehension problems, language deficits, poor memory, and a higher rate of school drop out.  So what is being done to help these children?

Many children are treated with medications according to psychcentral.com, but medications alone may never be successful.  Commonly used medications include Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Dexedrin, and Adderall.  These medications have a long list of side effects including reduced appetite, irritability, depression, anxiety, and sometimes side effects can be as serious as psychosis.  So the real question is, do the so-called benefits of these medications outweigh the side effects that many of these children encounter and the unknown long-term effects of medications that affect the development of children? This source also reports that there are many other ways to help deal with ADD/ADHD including behavior therapy, adequate attention, and more healthy living and diets.

Mental illness affects us in other ways. For instance, our prison system is one of the largest housing units for individuals with mental disorders.  An article from hrw.org points out that over the past six years, the number of inmates with mental disorders has quadrupled.  Over 50% of all inmates report mental health problems.  This number does not include those who go without reporting it.  One of the main complaints is severe depression.  This correlates to a number of 1.25 million inmates battling these disorders.  This rate is five times higher than the rate of mental health disorders present in the general population outside of the prison system.  Surprisingly, this number is even higher for incarcerated women, with almost two-thirds experiencing mental health issues. 

The even more troubling fact pointed out by hrw.org is that prisons are not operationally equipped to deal with mental illnesses, nor do most who are incarcerated receive much concern or compassion for the mental disorders that may have been the major reason they are locked up in the first place.  The thought that pops into my head is although these people are incarcerated inmates; does untreated mental illness have something to do with what landed them in prison in the first place?  Is our society in general not able to handle mental issues and problems, such as depression and impulse control, which can in turn increase the amount of people in prison, or who become homeless?  If these people had been given adequate treatment could their lives have turned out differently? All hard questions, but my general feeling is, yes, if mental illness was diagnosed and treated as early as possible---we would have less people incarcerated or living on the streets.  In my mind, it is analogous to the morbid obesity problems we are currently experiencing in the United States. If we educated and treated children and adults much more aggressively in an attempt to lessen the rates of obese individuals, we would obviously have fewer people dying of heart attacks, diabetes, strokes, and other weight-related illnesses.

It is not only the prison inmates and homeless that we should be concerned about. NBC News reports that 1 in 8 soldiers returning from deployment are diagnosed with PTSD.  This number does not include other mental illnesses that may affect them upon arrival to the United States again. NBC News also says that less than half of these diagnosed soldiers seek treatment for the disorder due to negative stigmas surrounding PTSD and out of fear of possibly hurting their careers.  There have been many violent events in recent years linked to soldiers returning from overseas.  An article from worldissues360.com reports that combat soldiers are more likely to engage in violent crimes than non-combat soldiers and civilians.  Many undergo extreme turmoil due to the emotional and physical toll combat has on them.  

The Washington Post identifies that the largest barrier to mental health care is the cost.  As of right now, the United States spends approximately 113 billion dollars on mental health treatment every year, and even with this amount of money being spent, 45% of those with mental health disorders report that the reason they do not have access to mental health treatment is due to its price.  Even though mental health problems are increasing, the budget to deal with the issue is decreasing.  

Due to our country’s recent economic recession, states have opted to reduce the mental health budget by 1.8 billion dollars.  Many people with mental disorders receive disability, versus early treatment which could possibly make them more functional and productive in our society, which is also a huge burden on the system. 

As usual, our government does not recognize the long term picture that mental illness related issues are going to end up costing us a lot more in terms of loss of life and economics because we are ignoring the causes and failing to emphasize early treatment. We seem to have no problems building prisons to put away all of the “defective” people, but do not have a care in the world how the “defective” people got that way.  It’s like that old joke that a famous comedian used to tell.  He would tell a newlywed to turn to his wife and ask him, “is your wife a great lover?” The excited and happy newlywed says, “Why yes, she is a great and passionate lover!!” Then, the comedian would ask the funny and difficult question to answer, “Do you have any idea how she got that way?” The point obviously being, things don’t just “happen,” something leads to them being that way over a period of time.

Employers also suffer a financial toll due to employees who have mental illnesses.  The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990.  The law was meant to give those with disabilities (which include mental illnesses) the right to disclose their disorders and receive necessary accommodations.  Psychcentral.com outlines the significance of this law, and how many employers do not correctly follow the law in order to avoid the strain of hiring individuals with disabilities.  If an employee discloses this information to the employer, the employer is obligated to provide necessary accommodations, which can include specific work hours and quieter workspaces, which may become burdensome and expensive to employers who therefore attempt to avoid hiring people that may require them.

 When is the last time you looked for a job? If you do suffer from any mental issues (or any physical condition that could potentially affect a job prospect), even extremely mild ones, did you even think of mentioning that you take, or have taken, medication or have received counseling for any type of mental disorder? Of course not, the first thing you think about is, “I need this job and I have to take care of my family,” “I cannot be disclosing issues regarding my mental stability, even if I am totally fine, if I ever hope to land a job and keep my problems out of my personnel file.”

As referenced above, a major reason people choose not to seek treatment is because of the stigma associated with mental disorders.  The Washington Post reveals that 66% of people had made the decision not receive treatment because they felt it would be easier to solve the problem on their own.  Mayoclinic.org reflects on the how strong the stigma towards mental illness is and how it inhibits many from seeking treatment.  Many family members do not understand the issue, and even some parents are reluctant to seek treatment for their children because of what others may think or say. They simply do not want their child’s “record” to indicate that they are anything less than so-called perfect.  Apt.rcpsych.org reports that in a study of 156 parents and spouses who had a first hand family member with mental illness, half tried to conceal or deny the illness when asked about it. 

Autism and Asperger syndrome are other illnesses that are on the rise and can be extremely detrimental to children.  Psychologytoday.com explains how the rise of autism diagnoses is unknown, even though the number has increased dramatically.  In 1996, a study showed that 4 or 5 cases of autism were present in every population of 10,000.  A more recent study has shown that this fractional amount has increased to about 100 cases per a population of 10,000.  One explanation for this is that the term for autism has been broadened dramatically over the past few decades, including more instances and individuals.  It is also more commonly noticed and therefore diagnosed. 

Asperger syndrome according to ghr.nlm.nih.gov, is part of the autism spectrum, and is defined as a group of conditions that mainly affect communication and social interaction.  This same source also reveals that the estimates for how many people are affected by this syndrome vary drastically.  Estimates range from 1 in every 250 to 1 in every 5,000 children. 

Children who are diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s go on to experience side effects later on in life as adults.  Autismspeaks.org explains how those diagnosed with Asperger’s specifically can face limited or inappropriate social interactions, repetitive speech, the inability to understand the social issues or needs or others, and many other so-called awkward moments throughout their lives. 

There are many organizations set up that allow people to donate money and time to help fight autism.  There is no cure, but ninds.nih.org explains that with continued research into the illness, a cure is hopeful.  There are treatment plans in place that include educational and behavioral interventions, medications, and other types of therapy.  Research continues to progress regarding the issue, in the hopes of finding a cure and better medical treatments. 

The Kelty Mental Health Resource Center, reveals that there seems to be a very distinctive connection between autism and other mental disorders.  The precise numbers regarding the connection vary, but it has become more apparent in recent years.  Most studies suggest that between about 50 and 75 percent of all children diagnosed with autism suffer from some other mental disorders as well.  One main mental health problem that goes hand in hand normally with autism is anxiety.  One study reports that up to 84% of people living with autism suffer from anxiety related difficulties as well. 

            As you can see, the mental issues suffered by different segments of our society affect all of us dramatically and in ways that we probably have never even thought about. The failure to recognize and admit that problems exist—and refusal to treat mental disorders—only serves to compound mental issues that are not going to solve themselves. As we saw with Robin Williams, serious mental disorders require a lifetime of work, and even then, tragedies still occur because no treatment is perfect and the frailty of the human mind can succumb to intense emotions and feelings based on mood and impulse that can lead to loss of liberty in the case of prison inmates, homes and family in the case of the homeless, extreme mental trauma for combat veterans, and the loss of life for those who simply see no relief on the horizon and ultimately give up hope.

            My sincere request to all of those who personally have experienced mental issues or have friends and loved ones who are going through an extreme rough patch, I urge you to do the best that you can to provide support and do not pretend that that mental illness does not exist, or is something to be embarrassed about.  Time and advances in medicine and treatment have shown us that all is not lost when a person hits a low point in their life, or has biological imbalances that affect their ability to function.  We should always be ready to lend our support in a time of need rather than avoid, judge, or ignore serious problems that do not go away by themselves.

            God bless Robin Williams and his family. I wish someone would have been there when he really needed them and I am sorry that sometimes the very best that humanity has to offer is senselessly taken away from us too early. But from all of this tragedy, the open discussion and dialog that has resulted from Mr. Williams’ death is still something positive that this great comedian has left us as yet another part of his enduring legacy.

            ~Leonardo G. Renaud

The New Age of Cryonics: Is it Worth it for a Second Chance at Life?

“I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens.” 

~ Woody Allen

            I am writing about the subjects in this article because I saw a fictional story on the television where a wife murdered her husband (who was dying of brain cancer) so that she could have his body frozen, with the hope that in the future, the two of them could be together again once there is a cure for cancer.  At that point, she hoped to have his body defrosted and brought back to life so that they can be together again, perhaps forever. Although it was a television drama, the idea of life after death by way of being frozen for some unknown reason intrigued me.

            I thought to myself, “Can they really do that?” Would I do that? What if they thaw you out and turn you into some sort of future servant, or food source (e.g., Soylent Green), science experiment, or throw you in a coliseum so that future gladiators can attack you, or lions? As you can probably tell, I probably watch too many science fiction and gladiator movies. But, I digress.

  Apparently, there are people and scientists who think it can be done and that it is going to be something very commonly done in the near future.

As weird and bizarre as having your body frozen to be later brought back to life may first sound, many people are currently having their bodies cryonically preserved.  HowStuffWorks.com defines cryonics as “the practice of preserving human bodies in extremely cold temperatures with the hope of reviving them sometime in the future.”  Scientists claim that they can freeze people who are legally dead but not totally dead.  Someone is declared legally dead when the heart stops beating, but this does not mean that all brain function has ceased.  They believe that if they freeze the body while there is still some brain function, the body can later be brought back to life.

In order to have this procedure done, you would have to join a cryonics facility (cryobank) and pay an annual membership which is somewhere around $400 a year according to HowStuffWorks.com.  Once you have been pronounced legally dead, the team immediately retrieves your body and takes it back to the facility where the freezing process begins.  The body is then stored in a liquid nitrogen filled tank (after paying up to $150,000 for the procedure) which many times doesn’t even get you a private tank.

  According to an article by Mental Floss, the first person to have this done was Dr. James Bedford.  Bedford was a professor at the University of California who had his body frozen in 1967.  Among the most well known to have this procedure done, is perhaps the famous baseball player Ted Williams. His son, John-Henry Williams, was also cryogenically frozen after his death.

There is also a possible tragic tale of a woman named Dora Kent who allegedly died of pneumonia says the publication Mental Floss.  Her body was immediately taken to a “life extension foundation,” where the procedure was performed without the presence of a doctor for freezing.  When her body was later examined by a medical examiner, not only was her body headless, but also the examiner suspected that she was still alive as the process of freezing began.  Oops.

HowStuffWorks.com states that critics of the practice claim that these cryobanks are simply stealing money by promising people something they will never be able to deliver.  Another huge problem is that the process of freezing a body is so tedious, that if it is not done at the right speed and temperature, the cells can turn into ice and then shatter, making it all for nothing.  The source also reports that many of these facilities opened, but were forced to close down due to the cost of the process.  Only a few facilities remain, with one of the most prominent being the Alcor Life Extension Foundation (located in Arizona) with 59 preserved bodies and 650 current members. 

Rationalwiki.org claims that scientists who practice cryonics are collecting large sums of money with the apparent hope of delivering a goal that is at a “science-fiction level.”  There is apparently no evidence to support any of their beliefs that they will be able to revive these bodies, but they are conveniently collecting annual membership fees while the people are alive and large sums of money for the actual procedure to take place.  There is also no guarantee that even if the technology is somehow developed to revive these frozen people, that the foundation will still be around or have the finances to bring them back to life.  Benbest.com claims that the large fees pay for the cost of preparing the bodies and to cover the costs of the storage. This seems a bit sketchy as a long term project since scientists have no idea if, when, and how they will ever be able to revive the bodies. How can they possibly know how much to charge? It’s like when a general contractor quotes you a price to build a house, nine times out of ten you end up paying more than what was originally contemplated----only with a cryobank you will be dead and not get a refund.

Benbest.com claims that it is not necessary to be rich in order to be preserved.  But paying dues upwards of $400 a year simply to be a member of a foundation and then paying up to $150,000 for the procedure doesn’t seem very attainable by the average person.  Most people do not even make what the procedure cost in several years of work.  The source also claims that the scientists involved with cryonics are poorly paid and that many volunteer simply for the greater good of their grand experiment.   They also admit that they have no idea how much reanimation will cost or the complexity of such a project. 

Other critics claim that it is immoral to pay outrageous amounts of money for cryonics when there are millions of people starving in the world.  Benbest.com again defends cryonics by saying that paying for cryonics is the same as trying to find a cure for Cancer or AIDS---only you are frozen the entire time the search for the cure for the disease goes on. 

Biochemist Professor Ken Storey criticizes the practice saying that there is little hope of it ever being successful.  According to BBC Science, Storey reports that it is common knowledge in science that organs need to be frozen at different temperatures in order for them to remain intact and functioning.  The source reports another potential problem pointed out by Cryobiologist Dr. Dayong Gao, from the University of Washington, says that safely removing the bodies from liquid-nitrogen filled tanks is virtually impossible.  He also notes that the body could shatter when being thawed.  The Alcor Foundation itself recognizes and admits that in over 50% of its cases, legal death occurs way before a representative from the foundation is able to arrive, causing extreme damage to the cells in the body. 

Religion is another major critic of cryonics.  Many believe that death is natural and that trying to come back to life for a second shot is, well, just unnatural.  Alcor tries to combat this belief in its website.  It claims that religion has nothing to do with the decision and that medicine itself was invented to help people live longer and healthier. In essence they are saying that God would want us to try and cure disease and live as long as we can even if we have to die first.  Although Alcor claims to take no stance when it comes to religion, it does admit that the majority of its members are atheists and that Alcor is not affiliated with any religion. 

When it comes to looking at a legal perspective of cryonics, Alcor’s website discuss the potential problems it may face even though there are currently no state or federal laws that specifically address entire bodies that are frozen after death.  They admit that due to the increasing interest in the subject, there is a very good possibility that laws will begin to emerge regarding the regulation of cryonics. 

The death and preservation of Ted Williams did bring up some legal issues.  According to the East Valley Tribune, three family members of the baseball legend filed a lawsuit claiming that Alcor took possession of and froze the body without the correct legal documentation.  Ted’s son, John-Henry Williams, had the body frozen after his father died of leukemia.  The family members claim that they repeatedly requested the documentation from Alcor, and that the foundation failed to produce anything.  The lawsuit was allegedly dropped by the Plaintiffs in exchange for a sum of $645,000 to be paid immediately and split between the three family members.  Apparently, money in their pockets somehow managed to diminish and have a sedating effect on their outrage.

It is not only entire bodies that are being frozen for later retrieval; there has been quite a lot of litigation regarding freezing such things as the following: sperm, eggs, and embryos. According to attorney Cynthia E. Fructhman, there is actually an entire area of law called ART (assisted reproduction technology) wherein lawyers assist clients to help clients obtain gametes (sperm and eggs) and make embryos so that they can form families that they would not otherwise be able to have.

Not surprisingly, as with just about anything involving people, there has been litigation that stems from disagreements concerning cryopreservation. Fruchtman describes different scenarios. In one, a woman retrieved sperm postmortem from her fiancé and had it cryopreserved. At the time she did this, the fiancés family did not object to her taking this action. After approximately a year and a half the woman decided to withdraw the sperm from the cryobank. The cryobank insisted that she had to get consent from her dead fiancé’s next of kin. When she tried to do this, the family told her that they were no longer comfortable with the idea and did not agree to sign the consent. The woman is now stuck with the awkward decision of having to sue the cryobank and/or her child’s future grandparents in order to get her dead fiancé’s sperm released to her.  Imagine going to a family reunion in that case scenario?

In another scenario, a couple with frozen embryos obtained a divorce. The court did not make any provisions for the embryos in the divorce decree. The issue that now arises is must the cryobank refuse to release the embryos to one of the depositors without the consent of the other, or does the cryobank have to insist on a court order before releasing the embryos to any of the depositors?  According to Fruchtman, there are no clear answers to the above situations. 

For those of you who would like to read some interesting cases that discuss the role of cryobanks as it relates to reproductive tissue, I highly recommend reading the following cases: York v. Jones, 717 F. Supp. 421 (E.D. Va. 1989) and Johnson v. Superior Court, 124 Cal. Rptr. 2d 650 (Ct. App. 2002).  According to Fruchtman, these are the only reported decisions to date that discuss the legal position of a cryobank that deals with reproductive tissue.  The issue of cryonics becomes far more complicated in those states, such as Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas that find that embryos are human beings which are entitled to the same legal protection afforded to all persons.

 In Tennessee, the highest appellate court has concluded that embryos are not strictly persons or property. Rather, they should be considered to be an interim category that entitles them to special protection because of their potential to become life. Davis v. Davis, 842 S. W.2d 588 (Tenn. 1992) cert. denied, sub nom. Stowe v. Davis, 507 U.S. 911 (1993). Interesting conceptually, well-intentioned, and thoughtful on the part of the court, but what kind of legal mess are labels such as an “interim category” and “special protection” going to eventually lead to? Only the creativity of trial lawyers and the divergent opinions, philosophies, agendas, politics, and biases of appellate courts throughout the country are going to give us the answers as new cases make their way through the court systems.

One probate court in Texas had a rather bizarre case where eleven frozen embryos where held by a fertility clinic and both the mother and father were murdered. The parents left no will giving instructions regarding what was to be done with the embryos in the event they both died.  Their only heir was a two year old son. The court ruled that the embryos must be maintained by the fertility clinic until the two year old boy turns eighteen, at which time he will acquire all rights to their disposition and he can decide what he wants to do with them. See Report and Recommendation of Master in Chancery. In the Estate of Yenenesh Abayneh Desta, Deceased, No. PR 12-2856-1. Probate Court No. 1 Dallas County (Feb. 23, 2014). So in essence, when he turns eighteen, he could possibly have eleven siblings or none at all---it all depends on him.

Needless to say, the litigation games have already begun and a whole new universe of possibilities and scenarios to fight over ownership of frozen “property,” “persons,” or “interim categories” has resulted in decisions that reach different results just depending on what state you happen to live, or die for that matter.

The future is now. What seemed like science fiction only a few years ago is now an entire spectrum of law that remains unsettled.  As for me, I prefer to treat life as a one-time only very special gift and enjoy the most of it while I can. I do not like the idea of jumping off of a cliff and trying to figure out how to build a parachute on the way down. This is exactly what is happening at these cryobanks because they may be able to freeze you and charge you a lot of money for it while you are alive, but what happens when the time comes to finally thaw out?

~Leonardo G. Renaud

The Lost Children; and the Band Plays While the Ship Sinks

So long as little children are allowed to suffer, there is no true love in this world.

~Isadora Duncan

In 2014 alone, Border Patrol agents across the Southwest have detained more than 52,000 unaccompanied minors, with a particular concentration along the Rio Grande border in Texas according to federal records. It is clear that this issue needs to be addressed because there are only so many detention facilities available and limited resources, and the American public is becoming more outraged.

My wish, admittedly probably unrealistic given the lack of any consensus of the issues, is that instead of the constant inflow and outflow of undocumented immigrants through a system that is clearly broken, that we could somehow erase the image and stories that families are getting in their home countries about streets paved with gold, an abundance of jobs, and easy upward mobility in the United States. The truth is, we as a country have been struggling economically for many years. There are people here who have been unemployed for so long, they literally have quit looking for jobs, resigned to getting as many part-time jobs as they can find simply to survive.

 Every year, we have thousands of kids graduating with college degrees (once thought to be the punch ticket to paradise) only to find that there are no jobs for them, and those jobs that are available barely pay the rent, much less the enormous student loan debt that a great number of kids have the day they finish college. Also, even though recent job statistics appear to show that the unemployment rate could be dropping, it must be noted that those who have become frustrated and given up are not counted as unemployed if they have not searched for work in the four weeks prior to when the most recent census was taken by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Moreover, the number of involuntary part-time workers (those working part time because their hours have been cut back or because they are unable to find a full-time job) has increased by 275,000 in June 2014 for a total of 7.5 million. So as you can see, labor statistics are easily manipulated for political benefit and actually not very impressive when you read the fine print.

As of this month, more than 77.4 million people live in highly concentrated areas of poverty according to the United States Census Bureau. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines the poverty line as $23,850 a year in income for a family of four.  This is definitely not a life of luxury and ease that many imagine exist in this country. And these numbers are for people who already live here.

I understand in concept that many families are willing to allow their children to travel illegally to the United States because the countries where they live are corrupt, violent, and dangerous. However, these parents should know that simply making it to the United States is an uphill battle, with many children being physically and sexually abused, abandoned by those who transport them, or simply getting lost and dying in some godforsaken desert. For those who make it here after such an arduous journey, the likelihood is high that they will be stuck doing some sort of back breaking labor for years of their life, never knowing when they are going to get that knock on the door sending them back to where they came from regardless of how established their life may be here.

Maybe it is naïve of me, but if we could really communicate the truth, that the streets aren’t paved with gold, and that many Americans live at or close to the poverty line already here in the United States, perhaps some of the parents so willing to let their children come to the United States would understand that it is an illusion and a life of toiling, worry, and misery that lies at the end of the rainbow. Again, I recognize that these are hopes and wishes on my part, not likely to ever take place given our inept government.

I read this weekend about a city in California where the mayor encouraged protesters to go out and block buses that were dropping off illegal immigrants in temporary housing facilities because detention centers in Texas are now overcrowded. Approximately 200 to 300 people surrounded the buses forcing them to turn around and travel to another Border Patrol station located in another California city. The detainees are primarily children, with few accompanied by other family members. According to the Los Angeles Times, the mayor said that the blockade was needed because the “federal government is not properly enforcing immigration laws that require immediate deportation of undocumented immigrants.”

In a more ominous tone, Texas Governor Rick Perry has accused the Obama Administration of a cover up for failing to return undocumented children. He also indicated that non-Mexicans crossing the border are coming from Middle Eastern countries such as Syria. According to journalist Eric Pfeiffer, Perry stated that “These people that are coming from states like Syria that have substantial connections back to terrorist regimes.” According to Politifact Texas, Perry’s Syria claims are “ridiculous” and “not accurate.” Perry indicates that he plans to run again for President, so you may want to file away some of the more unusual concepts he spews out to compare to what his story is in 2016.

Thousands of unaccompanied minors cross the U.S. Southern border each year in hopes of gaining the American dream according to CNN.  Many are trying to reunite with parents, family members and escape violence, gangs are poverty.  CNN also reports that “The number of children making these journeys by themselves has doubled each year since 2010. U.S. authorities estimate that between 60,000 and 80,000 children will seek safe haven this year.”  This seems like an astronomical number of minors to be crossing the United States southern border.  
            CNN also reports that from Honduras alone, 4,500 unaccompanied minors have been captured in Mexico and deported back.  This number does not include those who were lost along the way in other countries, those who were kidnapped, killed, or left for dead in the desert somewhere.  Even more astounding is that some of the children are reported as being as young as four years old with notes pinned to their clothing with information regarding who should be contacted upon the child’s arrival into the United States. 

            It is shocking to think that any parent would send over their young child to make such a dangerous and long trip.  So what motivates parents to allow and encourage this and minors to attempt it?  CNN describes that most are trying to escape “thuggery.”  They are fed up with the violence and poverty they encounter on a daily basis in their hometowns.  They see the United States as a safe haven; a place founded on equality and access to the American Dream.  According to CNN, one 17 year old girl who fled from Honduras says, "My grandmother is the one who told me to leave. She said: 'If you don't join, the gang will shoot you. If you do, the rival gang will shoot you, or the cops. But if you leave, no one will shoot you.'"

 I only wish that grandmother knew that the United States averages approximately 32,000 gun deaths per year. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 80% of gun deaths are gang related. The annual rate of gun deaths for every 100 thousand people hovers at approximately between 10-11 percent per year according to statistics kept by GunPolicy.org. There are 88 guns for every 100 people in the United States according to ABC News.  So while parents may want their kids to escape gangs and violence, these children are not exactly traveling to the most peaceful destination on earth.

According to the Washington Post, the United States has way more gun deaths that any other developed country in the world. Admittedly, Mexico and other countries in the midst of raging drug gang wars have higher gun-related deaths, but if the dream is to move to a nice, quiet, and safe place, the United States may not be the place to go to avoid being caught in a cross fire.

       These minors run into many problems throughout this harrowing journey.  Many encounter human traffickers, who kidnap and take advantage of the minors who are lost during the trip.  Human traffickers often abandon the minors, or they are caught.  Those that are caught are detained and then deported back to their country of citizenship where they await someone to come and claim them.  Many are kidnapped and held for ransom in Mexico by gangs, before being returned to their families, if ever.

       Others do arrive in the United States, but die in the Texas desert before ever experiencing what they set out to accomplish here in the United States.  The Corpus Christi Caller Times reports that 52 graves were discovered in June 2014, located in the Sacred Heart Burial Park in Falfurrias, Texas.  Last year 110 bodies were discovered, and researches expect to find more as time goes on.  According to the newspaper, it is likely that the deceased traveled in that direction in order to avoid a known Border Patrol checkpoint, which ended up costing them their lives.  

         CNN reports that recently, a young teen named Daniel Penado Savala, told his traumatic story of his trip to the United States.  He swam through a dirty alligator infested river in an attempt to make it to the U.S., which he eventually did.  His human trafficker abandoned him in the desert where he searched for food and water.  He said he continued walking through the desert with his 13-year-old sister in mind who remained in El Salvador.  One of his motivations for making the journey was to be able to send her money.  After two days of wandering in the desert in Texas, Daniel found a house. The occupants fed him before calling border patrol.  He was given a health screening and sent to a shelter.

       The American Psychological Association reports that there are one million undocumented immigrants under the age of 18 currently living in the United States.  Although many of these unaccompanied minors do not make it to the United States, others do, which is creating a whole separate set of concerns and questions.  CNN describes that U.S. Border Patrol agents are in a tough spot trying to take care of kids while at the same time enforcing the law.  Even more worrying, is the fact that the immigration reform is at a stalemate. 

This makes it even more frustrating for those dealing with the problem directly on the border.  They’ve had to open temporary shelters to place the children because existing shelters are completely full.  Different and complex repatriation policies apply to various countries and scenarios.  Undocumented minors found here from Mexico and Canada are repatriated and sent back.  Minors from other countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador often remain here for much longer in detention centers. 

            Besides the fact that new shelters are being opened, due to overcrowding, children and teens being housed there have begun making claims of neglect.  CNN states that the American Civil Liberties Union along with four other immigrations rights groups, filed a complaint listing accusations varying from extremely cold conditions to being held by Border Patrol far in excess than the statutory limits mandate. 

            The unaccompanied minors who take the risk of being smuggled into the United States yearn to accomplish the American Dream.  Upon their arrival, many realize that the American Dream is not as close in their reach as they had imagined.  According to the Center for Immigration Studies, 31.2% of all Hispanic immigrants with their families, live in poverty already in the United States.  If we include those who live close to the poverty line, the number increases to an astounding 46.4%.  This number accounts for almost half of all Hispanic immigrants.

 So people and more surprisingly, unaccompanied minors, are taking life-threatening risks to make it to the United States, and those who don’t die or get kidnapped along the way are most likely going to live in poverty and dangerous conditions here as well.

Clearly, the immigration problems of this country are a major problem and to repair the system is not going to be easy, especially with the political gridlock and lack of any movement by members of Congress to get anything meaningful accomplished. Now it is fighting for the sake of it in our Congress, with the people of this country being left out in the cold on not only immigration issues, but many other problems that need to be addressed immediately.

I only wish that someone could tell the parents of these children, who suffer and die in the pursuit of the American Dream, that it is an illusion, a mirage in the desert heat that gives hope of life, only to leave you to die alone when you find that the oasis is nothing but empty desert sand.

~Leonardo G. Renaud