Friends, family, fellow swapees mourn Brian Silkin

Brian Silkin, 28, died in a hospital early on Thurs May 3, 2007 of cardiac arrest. Brian had, in february, been swapped into the body of 61-year-old Mae Arnold, who had a history of health issues.

"Brian was still living like a young man," said tearful mother Karen Silkin, "He didn't realize that he had to make a lifestyle change, even though he kept feeling sick."

Brian's father adds, "It shouldn't have been his time."

The death shines a light of a tragic effect of swaps, the loss of life that is undeserved. Only a handful of swapees have died thus far, but a growing number of peoples are being swapped every day, often as in the case of Brian into older and more fragile bodies.

"This is why we need to educate and inform," said BISA spokesperson Arthur Gulf, "When you have been swapped, you are a different person and you're sadly not invincible. You have the same limitations as the previous owner of that body and you must respect that."

Though Brian, in Ms. Arnold's body may hve had many more years had he kept healthy, one cannot ignore the fact that, had he lived until the body was 80, would not have yet been 50 in the mind.

Dorothy Winchell, an employee at the Toronto BISA, was nearing retirement when she was swapped with 11-year-old Carrie Wong. Winchell says she stays very close to the Wong family, ensuring that Carrie is well cared for. "I would hate for something to happen to that poor girl because of my body."

The original Mae Arnold, who now stands 6'1 and has the body of an ex-College baseball MVP, had very little contact with Brian following the swap, saying "I had no idea that was how he was behaving."

"I hope a cure or something is found before too long," Arnold said, "It's too late for Brian and too late for me, I suppose, but there are so many others in trouble. We cannot continue to live life with this as a constant in the background."

A memorial service will be held Monday morning where friends and family will say goodbye to Brian.