Mormon Transhumanist Association

My brother in law sent me this message today . . .

-----

In case you didn't see it in the news today, a 61-year-old lady named Dianne Odell, who was infected with polio at age three and consigned to an iron lung for the rest of her life, died today as a result of a power failure. I had never heard of her, but I am inspired by her story. She graduated from high school and received an honorary doctorate, she wrote a book to inspire disabled children, and she was working on her autobiography. She has an incredibly devoted family who cared for her at home all her life and did everything they could to make her life happy and meaningful.

There is a good article about her here: http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/022002/hea_0220020028.shtml

Some photos taken at various times in her life, including her acceptance of an honorary doctorate, here: http://orig.jacksonsun.com/photogallery/polio_odell/pages/odell_a.htm

Finally, here is a YouTube video of her singing:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z5kNkS9kwDo

Thanks, Lincoln!  This is such an inspirational true story, especially because I know people in my private life who would actually say, "it would have been better if she had simply died as a young girl, rather than having to live the bulk of her miserable life attached to an iron lung!"  How wrong they would be...

Her story makes me think how perhaps something will have been lost when we live in a Post-Singularity society of nearly unimaginable technological advancement and comfort.  Physical suffering & challenge such as what she dealt with will only be a dim memory.

Will humanity have lost something when that time comes?  I put that question to the membership...

John Grigg