If the top of the spinal cord is severed, a person would:

If the spinal cord is severed at the top (i. e. at the level of the cervical spine) without the involvement of the brainstem, then this will produce motor paralysis of all muscles below the cervical spine, including the diaphragm; which will cause respiratory arrest and eventually, death. This will also cause sensory deficits below the transection as well as autonomic deficits below the transection.