NOAH, THE FHC EXTENDED FAMILY & PHOTOS

On behalf of the Krantz Krew I want to thank the FHC extended family that came through for us in all different ways when the "chips were down". From the donation of blood, (and many offers that were not needed), organization of plans, babysitting, food deliveries, taxi service for my other children, information networking, etc. FHC was there for us. (If ever there was a story to show what a great congregation and extended family FHC is and why people should join us, this is it.) This is what a shul should be about!

Noah's brain surgery went very well. The surgeons removed the majority of two tumors that were essentially in the middle of his brain in a region called the lateral ventricle. While there remains other tumors in Noah's brain, they are not in a precarious position and, hopefully, they will not grow to become life-threatening.

The surgery lasted approx. 6 hours and he was in the PICU for four days and was in the pediatric ward for one day.

We took turns staying with Noah on a 24/7 basis for the entire time. Noah was visited by family and friends and his spirits got much better after approx. the third day in the PICU.

Slowly, the attachments to machines, tubes and monitors were removed.

Now, Noah is on anti-seizure medications and steroids. He remains out of school and we anticipate that he can go back in another week or so.

I have included several pictures of Noah that were taken on the last day in the PICU. (I did not take any pictures prior to that because they were not that pleasant.)

The Noah smile is back .

Thank G-d and the wonderful people who prayed for his health and well-being.

Shalom. Jeremy

"I AM ALMOST OUT OF HERE!!!!!"

NOAH WITH BLOGGER

NOAH WITH MOM

NOAH AT NYU NICU

NOAH IS HOME RECOVERING NICELY

I am pleased to report that Noah is doing very nicely post-op and he came home on 9/26/05. I will, at a later posting, discuss what happened, etc. Just a quick note to provide a good progress report. Thank-you for all your prayers and thoughts and help.

Shalom. Jeremy

NOAH'S SURGERY

Yesterday my son Noah asked me, in reference to the surgery, "Dad, am I going to die?"

After struggling with how to address that question and realizing the true torment he was having, I answered,

"G-d willing, you will be fine."

The answer I came up with, G-d willing, tells alot about what being a Jew is all about.

I will not lie to my son and tell him everything is going to be fine. I could not tell him something that I could not personally back up. I did tell him something that I believe my Jewish upbringing allows me to say. "G-d willing".

We have done our due diligence in reference to the surgeon, the hospital, the medicines, etc. I cannot go beyond what is humanly possible. I can, however, provide my feelings that faith in G-d will help Noah through this ordeal.

As the Rabbi recently stated, G-d and Torah sometimes do take a backseat to the busy lives that we lead. Yet when we are confronted with things in our lives that our beyond human comprehension, usually life and death issues, we invoke G-d's divine province. While we, as Jews try to remember G-d in everyday events with prayers and study, we especially think of the divinity when we are dwarfed by life's slings and arrows.

Tomorrow Noah ("I will be brave") is supposed to have brain surgery at NYU. We are supposed to get to the hospital by 6:30am. The surgery is supposed to last anywhere from 5 to 7 hours and he supposed to be in the NICU and thereafter in the hospital for a total of 7 days.

Hopefully Noah, as the Men's Club's honorary junior member, will be ready to join us for the next Men's club breakfast scheduled for October 16, 2005.

Shalom. Jeremy

"Adversity builds Character"

Adversity builds Character

If adversity builds character then that must explain why Jews are such characters. Our collective Jewish history is filled with adversity and struggle. Yet we continue on...

Recent adversity such as Hurrican Katrina, Iraq and the war on Terrorism that this country faces, we should face together as Americans. Will these events build our collective character? Only time will tell, but I am hopeful.

When do we rise above adversity? Is it when we face it head on and do everything within our powers to conquer it? Do we have the internal fortitude to accept those things that we cannot conquer and, based upon hope, faith and prayer marshal our strength and continue on?

We all experience adversity at one time or another. Whether it is through school, career/business, family, health issues, loss of a loved one; how we deal with adversity tells us alot about who we are and what we are made of. Adversity certainly does build character. I should know, because, ask my wife, I am one h-ll of a character.

Shalom. Jeremy

Saturday September 17, 2005 : Phyllis Stern and Incoming Board

Just a reminder that we should all try and attend Saturday morning services on September 17, 2005 when we honor Phyllis Stern for her devoted service to FHC and to welcome the incoming Board of Trustees.
(I mention her name specifically since it is a publicized FHC event.)

I personally want to thank Phyllis for her dedication and committment to FHC. She is a terrific role model for FHC members who want to know how they can contribute their time and energy to FHC. Now, if we could just figure out a way to clone her...

As an aside, I heard that this Oneg after services should be quite nice.

Shalom. Jeremy

First, second and Third....

First: Welcome back and welcome first-timers to Hebrew school. Study hard and enjoy the FHC learning experience.

Second: We had a successful Men's club meeting on Sunday morning and for the next scheduled meeting, October 16, 2005, one of our member-chefs is going to cook a different breakfast for the meeting. I look forward to his creativity and also we would like to have even more members come. So, save the date: October 16, 2005 at FHC for the breakfast meeting.

Last, but not least, I welcome four new individuals who requested that they be added to the blog list. I hope you enjoy what you see. Let me also suggest that you peruse the archive for articles and pictures. The archive is a nice way to look at the things that have gone on in the past SIX MONTHS on the blog.

Shalom. Jeremy

Men's Club September 11, 2005 breakfast and certain other functions (Schedule)

"Food, glorious food..."

On September 11, 2005, instead of dropping off the kids for Hebrew School and leaving, or even having breakfast at home, come join the Men's club at FHC as it will kick off the 2005-2006 year with its first breakfast meeting.
Stop in for a terrific breakfast and get involved. And if you don't want to get involved, you can at least come, talk, pick up a fork and eat!

Personally, I would love to see some new faces at this meeting.

Below is the schedule of Men's club and certain other functions. Please note the dates and join us.



Men’s Club Meetings / Other Functions 5766 (2005 – 2006)

Sunday, September 11, 2005
Breakfast Meeting

Sunday, October 16, 2005
Breakfast Meeting

Sunday, November 20, 2005
Breakfast Meeting – Activities with Kids

Sunday, December 4, 2005
Joint Breakfast Meeting with Sisterhood

Sunday, January 8, 2006
Breakfast Meeting

Save the date!!!!!!!!
(Sunday, February 5, 2006
Super Bowl Party)

Sunday, February 12, 2006
Breakfast Meeting -- Downtown

Sunday, March 12, 2006
Purim Carnival

Saturday, March 18, 2006
Men’s Club Shabbat

Sunday, March 26, 2006
Blood Drive -- Parents Day

Sunday, April 23, 2006
Joint Breakfast Meeting with Sisterhood

Sunday, June 4, 2006
BBQ Day - Last School Day

The compassion of FHC members

My mother (rest in peace) used to say, "When the chips are down, you will find out who your true friends are." Well, the FHC family truly is a fine group of friends. Unbeknownst to me, my wife made a request (via FHC e-mail) for a unit of blood for Noah to be donated for his 9/21/05 surgery. (I am giving a unit on 9/14/05 and Robin cannot donate). Literally, within an hour we had a FHC member offer to donate and shortly thereafter several more offered. To the FHC member who is going to donate (I do not disclose names here), thank-you from the bottom of my heart. You are truly doing a mitzvah of the highest order.

To those who offered and are not doing it, thank-you for your compassion and willingness to come to our aid "when the chips are down".

And to those who have expressed their hopes for a speedy recovery, etc. thank-you. Certainly, it is my hope that the more people praying for Noah, the better he will be.

As I have been writing about for some time on this blog, I truly consider FHC to be an extended family of truly wonderful people. We should take pride in the fact that FHC is not just bricks and mortar, but truly the blood of its members, the sweat of those who contribute their time and energy and yes, the tears of the families who suffer loss and/or medical issues.

As a final personal note, I will try and get back to FHC issues as best as I can. Obviously, our personal issues concerning Noah/surgery/etc have become part of this blog. But since I consider FHC to be part of our extended family, I am writing about FHC and its absolutely terrific people.

Shalom. Jeremy

Status Report re: personal note (Noah)

In August, we were advised that our son required brain surgery. As such, I took a period of time away from this blog to think about this and collect my thoughts and feelings. This blog was "Shalom for a while"....

To our extended FHC family I want to thank those who expressed their wishes and prayers for Noah. We truly appreciate it.

The current status is that the surgery is to take place on September 21, 2005 at NYU. He has several tumors in the brain, but the one that is causing the most trouble is approx 2 centimeters in diameter and is pressing on the lateral ventricle. He is in no pain and as of now is asymptomatic.

I will not go into the details other than to say that we have experienced our own tsunami of events since the decision was made for Noah to have brain surgery.

I am very proud of Noah who has been a trooper throughout, going to various doctors and listening to the Neurosurgeon describe the operation. It is heartwrenching to hear your child ask "Dad, is he going to put my head back together?" It is even more rattling not to be a firm "pillar of strength" even though it is needed now more than ever.

Since I do not have the skills of a surgeon, all we can do is utilize the power of faith and know that whatever happens, it is in G-d's hands.

Shalom. Jeremy