Dear friends and family,
Margie here again, with more bad news that I am feeling heartbroken to share. But one of the last communications I had with my mom was a text she wrote reminding me to keep writing in this blog if/when she couldn’t.
MRI Results -> Brain Damage
Yesterday we got the sad results that my mom has had many strokes on both sides of her brain. She has severe brain damage that has affected the part of her brain that controls consciousness. The neurologist told us that it was unlikely she would recover from this state. Even if she could, the best we could hope for is that she would be mildly conscious and able to listen to music. She would never be able to speak or move on her own, and might not understand anything. Even to get to that point would require months and months of being on a being on feeding and tracheotomy tubes.
Honoring My Mother’s Wishes
My mom was very clear that she did not want to be kept alive artificially if there was no hope that she would return to some recognizable version of herself. Though we very much did not want to receive the prognosis we did, we do feel blessed that it made our decisions much less confusing than I had feared. We met with the palliative care doctor and social worker today, and they are going to remove her breathing tube and withdraw artificial life-sustaining measures. Instead, they will focus on keeping her as comfortable as possible and wish as much dignity as can be afforded in this situation.
Holding Vigil
Jeremy and the kids are driving down now, and after he gets a chance to say goodbye, they will remove the breathing tube. The doctors said it could take up to a week for my mom to pass, so my dad and I are going to be holding vigil for her as she transitions from this world.
Shabbat on the ICU Floor
This evening, the incredible staff here have arranged for us all to have Shabbat dinner in the conference room on the ICU floor (the kids will cannot enter my mom’s room). Our dinner will include my dad, Jeremy, my kids, me, and my parents beloved Ugandan housemates Shoshana and Emunah. I am grateful that we will all be together to honor my mom’s life in this hard moment, and to be with my dad even though he did not want to leave the hospital. Because the hospital caters to the Hasidic community, they actually have a whole room where you can pick up free challah, grape juice, cake, and cookies!
Potential Request
The one potential request I know about now is that there may come a time when my kids are here with no one to pay attention to them. If you have young NYC based kids (or are a kid-whisperer yourself), we may want support in the next week. We really don’t know yet, because timing is out of our control at this point. If that is something that you think you can help with, please email me at margieklein1@gmail.com.
Thank you
I will share more when there is more news to share. Your support and prayer has been incredibly meaningful for our whole family. Thank you.
Much love,
Margie
Oh, Margie, such very sad news. Our hearts are heavy and we send our love and prayers of support.
Dorothy and Michel
There is not much to say but Harriet is so loved and respected. We all know life is temporary but it so hard to say goodbye to a person that is so loved and impactful. Her footprints, handprints and soul will live on. Thank you for sharing your painful journey with all of us.
To Ken especially and all of Harriet’s dear ones, the only thing I can find to say is that we wish blessings on Harriet and all her close family and all who have experienced her in life. With love, Carole and To
My heart is breaking for Jarriet and for all of you.
I cannot believe that my brilliant, funny and incisive mentor will no longer be here.
Our hearts go out to all of you.
Mark and Jo Ann Froedman
Dearest Margie,
You all have been so strong. I am in tears as I write this. I think about my mother-in-law Goldie and your great grandmother Pauline who were close friends from the time they were kids until Pauline died. I am thinking off how your mom has changed the world. She and I actually met when we were both at Camp Ramah in CT(now in Palmer MA) and years later when I was dating may husband Bob and he mentioned his mother’s friends “the twins.” Since he grew up in Fair Lawn NJ I asked who they were. I only knew of one pair of adult twins, the mothers of Harriet Bograd and Maxine Yucht. Theses were the very women who were Bob’s mother’s friends! As years passed I didn’t see your mom until my friend Susan Greene Merewitz invited us and your parents to Bar mitzvoth and weddings of their 2 sons.I was in awe of the work Harriet did in Africa and around the world. She will be loved and remembered by so many friends all over the world. You too in your own way are making this world better. To you, your sister and your father, who has been an incredible partner as he had your mom faced these health challenges, I wish you healing. You all will carry so many wonderful memories of your mom.
Lots of hugs for all of you,
Elizabeth
Oh, Margie. Thank you for sharing. This must have been difficult to write. We love you all.
Sarah and David
I am devastated and sad. I can’t even envision not being able to make late night phone calls to my buddy of 40 years, Harriet!
Thank you for this . I’m in so much pain for you . Shabbat Shalom Genie Milgrom
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We have all been blessed to have known such a wonderful person. Sending heartfelt love to the family.
So much feeling, what words can possibly be large enough? Dear, magnificent Harriet, dear all of you. Some comfort in tonight’s shabbat dinner with all of you together in the conference room…Holding the image of you all together, loving Harriet, Julie and David
Ken and I are sending blessings for peaceful transition from this Life to beloved Harriet who is a pillar of strength , comfort and caring and source of Love for countless people around the world. Her community is the world of people she gathers together in support of each other .
Thank you for sharing the journey of your beloved mother and family here .
We are holding you all in our hearts .
Blessings
Suzanne Black and Ken Solomon
My heart is breaking for the Klein-Bograd family and for the thousands of individuals who will be bereft at the loss of a true hero…whether as close as Lincoln Square neighbors and West End Synagogue members to literally around the world.
May you, Harriet’s dearest, feel the loving embrace that we are sending to you…as we all take in this sad inevitability.
With deep admiration and love for Harriet, Susan Beckerman
Sent from my iPad
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Wishing you all strength and courage during this most difficult and heartbreaking time. Love, Chaya Weinstein
את אשר יגורתי בא
When the expected news arrives it is still unexpected.
Cannot think of the world without this wonderful and dear friend just across, at 165. Thinking much of Ken, and you Margie and Sara and family.
Hugs,
Moshe