This week we were sad to see the news of the death of Lauren Hill, the brave teenager whose battle with brain cancer went public when she refused to let the disease derail her dream of playing college basketball. Elsewhere, we learned more about what happens to the brain during near death experiences and how a man was crushed to death during a funeral procession in Israel.
Digital Dying Weekly News: 4/10/2015
Lauren Hill dies at 19 after battle with brain cancer
Apr 10, 2015 — USA Today: Lauren Hill touched a nation with her desire to play for Mount St. Joseph’s women’s basketball team, even as she battled an inoperable brain tumor. Her resolve, spirit and courage were celebrated Nov. 2 when she realized her dream at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. Cheered on by a sold-out crowd of 10,250 and a television audience, Hill scored the first and last basket of the Mount’s 66-55 victory over Hiram College… Read the full story
NASA addresses the question of what to do when an astronaut dies in space.
To Boldly Go Where No Body Has Gone Before: What to do when an astronaut dies in space.
Apr 7, 2015 — Slate.com: It’s raining in Washington on July 24, 1969. The weather seems appropriate, given the tragic events that have just transpired that evening. Richard Nixon stands before a tense press corps gathered at the White House, and a silence envelops the room. “Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace,” he begins. “These brave men know there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice… Read the full story
Near-Death Experiences: What Happens in the Brain Before Dying
Apr 6, 2015 — Live Science: In the moments before death, the heart plays a central role, conventional wisdom says. That is, as the heart stops beating and blood stops flowing, the rest of the body slowly shuts down. But new research suggests this view may be wrong… Read the full story
Digital Life: To tweet or not about death, dying
Apr 6, 2015 — USA Today: Last month, Lisa Bonchek Adams, the mother of three, died long after being diagnosed with breast cancer. What was remarkable, memorable and controversial — about both her life and death — was her very public blogging, including the use of social media, to tell the story of her illness to so many. When she died, Adams could claim more than 15,000 Twitter followers… Read the full story
On April 5th, A 27-year old man was crushed to death in a stampede during a funeral procession for a Jewish religious scholar.
Man Crushed To Death In Funeral Stampede
Apr 5, 2015 — Voz is Neias: Israeli police say a man was crushed to death in a stampede during a funeral procession for a Jewish religious scholar. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says more than 100,000 mourners flooded the streets of the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak, where the funeral took place late Saturday. Rosenfeld said Sunday that a surge of people tried to enter and exit a building for an unknown reason, pushing some mourners up against a staircase and unable to move. Rosenfeld said paramedics struggled to reach the 27-year-old victim because of the crowd and he was pronounced dead at a hospital…. Read the full story
Tech titans’ latest project: Defy death
Apr 4, 2015 — Washington Post: For centuries, explorers have searched the world for the fountain of youth. Today’s billionaires believe they can create it, using technology and data. Seated at the head of a table for 12 with a view of the city’s soaring skyline, Peter Thiel was deep in conversation with his guests, eclectic scientists whose research was considered radical, even heretical… Read the full story
