Kaplan Exchange -

In Loving Memory

Tribute from a very special friend

Subj: Sympathy

Date: 5/8/2002 8:02:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

From: kapla001@umn.edu (Edward L. Kaplan, M.D.) 

To: omarabulfadl@hotmail.com, Roptix2@aol.com 

My Friends:

I have only this afternoon learned the very sad news of your mother's passing. I learned of this from Dr. Salah Zaher from Alexandria who sent me an Email. His sad news caused me to stop for a long while and sit in my office alone to reflect on what this wonderful lady has contributed both to me as an individual and to the world. To try to describe the encompassing influence she had to accomplish good for all people - whether they be children with rheumatic fever or whether they be friends and professional colleagues like me - is impossible to do. Her many significant accomplishments speak for themselves. It is through these accomplishments that she will be long remembered by all.

I am especially glad that my wife, Irene, and I were able to visit once again with her during our short stay in Cairo in February. The genuine love and affection which she showed to us and the opportunity to talk with her about medicine and science, even at that late time in her life is something that I will always recall. I can also assure you that not another birthday of mine will go by without my recalling that huge birthday cake that she sent to my hotel in Cairo this past February.

We send our deep sympathy to you and to your entire family. If there is anything that we can do to help remember her in any way, I know that you will let me know.

Sincere condolences,

Ed and Irene Kaplan

Edward L. Kaplan, M.D. Department of Pediatrics -University of Minnesota Medical School

Dear Azza:
 Of course I remember you from Alexandria in November of 2000. I was
sorry that we did not have the chance to renew our acquaintanceship this
past February.

 Thank you very much for your comments about your mother. While you are
admittedly influenced by the mother/daughter relationship, I have had the
wonderful opportunity to observe these wonderful attributes from another
perspective, that of a friend and colleague since I first met her here in
Minneapolis about 1965 or 1966. This humanitarian was more than exceptional
during her life. While you described it perfectly in your Email, the word
which so exemplified her every action was "compassion." While reflecting
and promoting compassion, at the same time she also was an astute scientist.
During the visit to Egypt when you and I met in Alexandria in November 2000,
you may not be aware that your mother absolutely insisted on taking me to
the plane at the Cairo airport at 2 AM when I was leaving to return to
Minnesota . She came to the airport hotel at 1 AM (despite my attempts to
tell her not to!). We sat in the lobby of the Movenpick Hotel and she
carefully outlined a study she wanted to do about streptococci and rheumatic
fever. It was a perfectly conceived study with proper controls and the
like. It was not surprising because I knew her and what she stood for, but
it was an experience that I will never forget!

I sincerely hope that you and your siblings will in some way be able to
arrange for her to be remembered and honored in Egypt and across the world.
There are very few like her and there will be very like her inthe future. I
feel so very fortunate to be able to have known her and benefited from her
kindness, compassion and wisdom.

I hope that if you every visit the US , that Minnesota will be a part of your
itinerary. With my warm best wishes and sincere sympathy for your loss,

 All the best, Ed Kaplan

************************************************************************

From: Azza Abul-Fadl <azfadl@yahoo.com>
To: <kapla001@umn.edu>
Cc: <Roptix2@aol.com>
Date: Monday, May 13, 2002 10:34 AM
Subject: mom's departure

Dear Prof. Kaplan,
I was so happy to hear from Dr. Salah that you are
sending condolences for our mother. I met you briefly
in Alexandria . I am her youngest daughter and work as
a pediatrician, teaching in medical school. May
interest is mainly in social pediatrics, since I was
very impressed with her work in social medicine. I do
very little clinical pediatrics. I prefer to care for
needy children at risk, helping moms with
breastfeeding and caring for their children, supporting
the health of adolescents through adolescent health.
Its been all the works of my mom. She saw pediatrics
as a science of making children really feel better
inside out. Not only free of organic disease, but also
supporting them to enjoy their life, grow to become
useful adults physically and mentally. Her aim was not
to cure their rheumatic heart state of children or to
prevent it, but to make them useful, happy beings
irrespective of their handicap. She loved them as
their own, and made us feel they were all our brothers
and sisters, we would spend our holidays and weekends,
playing with them and reading them stories and giving
them love and attention. When she visited these
children or did her rounds she was sweeping amongst
them like a mother caring for her children, making
sure they had everything they wanted and all the care
they needed.
I could go on speaking about her endlessly... I thank
you again, wish you and your family all the best.
best regards
Azza

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