IdleTimeout patch did not get in?

[B Wooster]

Doing a search in the list archives, I see that in 2001/2002 there was
a patch made available for IdleTimeout keyword, for example:
    http://marc.info/?l=openssh-unix-dev&m=99838019319356&w=2

Looks like that patch did not make it in the following versions of
OpenSSH - is there a reason why  - any chance of the patch getting
back in?

I do know about ClientInterval, but I think I need IdleTimeout.

The specific circumstance is that I've a SSH2 session from a laptop
(PuTTY) to a OpenSSH server.

When the laptop goes into standby or hibernates, and then is
re-started after around 8 hours, the SSH session gets a network
disconnect error". Since hibernate implies the client and the network
connection is dormant, I am wondering if the IdleTimeout might help
(maybe not?)
If anyone has any other options that would allow an server to not
disconnect a client even the connection is dormant - or maybe this is
not possible? - let me know!
Hate having to re-connect every 8 hours!