Feb 15 • 10:25 UTC 🇬🇧 UK Mirror

Desperate parents cryogenically freeze dying two-year-old daughter's brain

Parents of a terminally ill two-year-old preserved her brain through cryonic freezing after conventional treatments failed to save her life.

Matheryn Naovaratpong, a two-year-old girl diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer shortly after her birthday, faced a grim prognosis following a lengthy battle against the disease. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, chemotherapy rounds, and radiation therapy, her parents, Sahatorn and Nareerat Naovaratpong, were devastated to learn that no further medical efforts would reverse her condition. In an attempt to give their daughter a potential second chance at life, they made the heart-wrenching decision to cryonically freeze her brain after she passed away.

The decision to preserve Matheryn's brain through cryonics highlights the emotional turmoil faced by parents in dire situations, struggling to find hope in science and technology when conventional medicine falls short. This case raises significant ethical questions regarding cryonics, particularly in pediatric cases where the patient did not have the opportunity to consent. While some view it as a desperate act of love and hope, others express concerns over the practicality and the underlying implications of such choices.

The Naovaratpong family's actions reflect a growing trend where parents are willing to explore unconventional options in the face of terminal illnesses. While the future of cryonics remains uncertain, the emotional burden borne by families in making such decisions underscores the need for supportive conversations around end-of-life options and medical treatments that prioritize both emotional and psychological well-being.

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