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The Dragon Slayer

r

rom infancy on, Laura
Fingeroot, who died Aug. 2,
2004, at age 48, was faced with
more medical challenges than most peo-
ple endure in a lifetime.
The first dragon she slew, at age 2,
was bilateral Wilms tumor. It took part
of each of her kidneys, but she was the
first long-term survivor of that disease
and is cited in medical textbooks.
She was told she would never have
children, but she didn't listen and went
on to become the mother of three —
and mother figure to other friends,
neighbors and relatives. All the kids in
her neighborhood called her "Mom."
She and Marty married young and
celebrated each and every day of their
28-year marriage. Although life never
provided a smooth run, they never let it
get them down. They joyously raised
their children — Bryan, Danny and
Natalie — appreciating all the challenges
and gifts each child brought. Their Oak
Park home was the gathering place for
their community.
In recent years, Laura suffered kidney
failure. Her sister Felicia Stewart, also a
mother of three, donated a kidney to

save Laura's life. Laura slew all the drag-
ons faced by organ transplant patients
and went on to face every day with a
positive attitude for nearly 12 years.
She became diabetic and dealt with it.
Her blood pressure was uncontrollable,
and she controlled it. She had a heart
attack and slew that dragon, too.
Laura learned recently that the kidney
was failing and mustered her stren gth
and stamina to take whatever steps were
next on her path. She needed to prepare
her body to receive dialysis when the
kidney eventually failed and she fought
off the dragon of stents that closed up
and blood that wouldn't stop clotting.
This spring brought the strongest
dragon of all as Laura was rushed to the
hospital after another heart attack. The
doctors told Marty to gather their chil-
dren and family because it was doubtful
that even the Dragon Slayer could face
this one down.
But she did. Three heart attacks later,
with five stents in her artery Laura
pulled through when no one thought
she could. And she did it in her usual
fine humor. When she was in the oper-
ating room for the third surgery in two

matter how difficult —
even lately -- she always
found some way to
lighten it up."
But, thanks to Debby's
As a mother and a
attitude and "promos"
friend,
Debby also was a
to her family and all
resource
in balancing the
the neighbors, Nicole
emotional
scales.
was "special."
"Everyone turned to her
When the school
for advice," recalls sister-
authorities told Debby
in-law Sandra Tessler,
that Nicole could not
"because she helped you
learn to read and write,
find balance. First she
Debby promptly dis-
acknowledged your feel-
proved them, bringing
Debby Rubin
ings and then she
the light of literacy into
helped you explore your
her special daughter's
options until you came
life. Debby remained very devoted to
to
a
wise
decision."
and active in JARC.
Louis remembers the one time his
And most pronounced, Debby
mother
was directive. He had called her
brought humor. "She saw humor in
when
he
was first married to have her
everything," says daughter Suzanne
instruct
his
wife, Julie, in the correct
Shulman, "she was a fabulous story-
method
of
making
matzah brei.
teller."
"Debby
told
him
that
however your
"An animated and passionate story-
wife
cooks
it,
that
is
the
right way for
teller," adds daughter-in-law Dr. Beth
you,"
a
grateful
Julie
recalls,
adding that
Rubin.
her
mother-in-law
was
"an
inspiration."
Debby's sister-in-law Roz Rubin
"She was always smiling, always posi-
recalls the "stomach-aching, breath-
tive,"
says her brother-in-law, Dr.
grabbing laughter" they shared, echoing
Martin
Tessler. "She was one of the
the memories of Debby's sister Robin
sweetest,
kindest people I've ever
Fox: "Whatever confronted her, no

A Light To All

I

8/ 6
2004

78

n a world that was often stormy,
Debra Rubin brought sunshine.
While it shone through in her
glowing complexion, gleaming eyes and
radiant smile, her light emanated from
within.
"There was a magnetism to her per-
sonality," says Dr. J. Barry Rubin, her
husband of 43 years, who fell in love
with her when they were teens.
Debby Rubin, 62, of Bloomfield
Hills, died Aug. 2, 2004, after a pro-
tracted struggle with ovarian cancer.
Called "the consummate mother" by
brother-in-law Dr. Michael N. Rubin,
Debby and Barry shared the joys and
challenges of raising five children.
'And she always had time for every-
body," remembers son Louis G. Rubin.
"My friends didn't think of her as
someone's mother; they talked to her
like she was their friend," adds his twin
brother, Scott Rubin.
The twins' oldest sister, Laura Rubin,
says, "My mother's most important
attribute was what she did for Nicole."
Nicole, Debby's youngest child, was
born mentally and physically disabled.

did every day, made
weeks, the doctors were
plans to meet her
preparing and Laura heard
friend Howard for
the phone ring. "Is that the
lunch, talked to
governor calling?" she asked,
friend Harriet about
wondering if this was her
the next mahj game
reprieve. She pulled through
and lay down for a
and vowed to live long
recuperative nap.
enough to share that joke
It was during that
with everyone who would
nap that the dragon
listen.
crept up on her and
Her family and friknds
Laura could no
kept constant vigil in the car-
longer fight back.
diac care unit and rejoiced
She is lovingly
when she was released to
Laura Fingeroot
remembered by her
come home. Since April,
husband, Marty of
Laura had been on dialysis
Oak Park; children Bryan of New York,
three times each week. She was getting
Danny of Ypsilanti and Natalie of Oak
used to it and would give her friends the
Park; parents Martin and Reta Prince of
"percentile" report each day. "I'm 55
New York; sister Felicia (Mark) Stewart
percent," she reported while blueberry
of New York; mother-in-law Annette
picking two weeks ago.
Fingeroot; sisters-in-law Susan Adler
The days were never great — there
Shanteau (John), Judy Jacobs (Howard);
was pain, discomfort, fatigue, dozens of
brother-in-law Howard Fingeroot
medications to take — but she perse-
(Vicky) and Mark Adler.
vered as long as she could. At a family
She was the sister of the late David
gathering the night before she died,
Prince
and the daughter-in-law of the
Laura was tired. She reported "35 per-
late Ben Fingeroot.
cent" but wouldn't let it keep her from
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
the celebration.
Park. Contributions may be made to a
And on her final day, Laura the
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
Dragon Slayer Fingeroot went to dialy-
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. 0
sis, ate her breakfast at Giorgio's as she

known."
For her husband, who calls. Debby
"my soul-mate and the closest friend of
my life," and for all who knew her, the
light will continue to glow in their
hearts.
Mrs. Rubin is survived by her hus-
band, Dr. J. Barry Rubin; daughters
and a son-in-law, Laura Rubin of
Chicago, Suzanne and Greg Shulman
of Farmington Hills, Nicole Rubin of
West Bloomfield; sons and daughters-
in-law, Louis and Julie Rubin of
Glencoe, Ill., Scott and Dr. Beth Rubin
of West Bloomfield; grandchildren,
Jason, Brandon and Alison Shulman,
Emily and Adam Rubin, Jake and Eli
Rubin; sister and brother-in-law, Robin
and Gene Fox of Whittier, Calif; sis-
ters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sandra
and Dr. Martin Tessler, Dr. Michael
and Roz Rubin.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
the Debby Rubin Memorial Fund at
JARC, 30301 Northwestern Hwy,
Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI
48334. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑