On Friday, May 13th Keiko called Paul at work saying she had a bad headache. He came home and saw she was in distress and called 911; an aneurysm in her brain had ruptured, and though the surgeons tried to save her they could not. She was declared medically deceased on Saturday morning, May 14th.

 

In true Keiko form, she is giving one last incredible gift of generosity, as an organ donor. Because of this she was kept on a ventilator after her heart stopped, and Paul, Julian and Makenzie have been able to visit with her, sharing love and having meals in her room as she is matched with donation recipients. Her ultra-rare blood type means that people who have been waiting for years on donor lists have finally been given a match; no surprise, she has found a final way to benefit our community's most vulnerable members. On Tuesday, May 17th, they will be sending Keiko off to whatever is next; we will all be holding the Smith family in our hearts as they say that last goodbye.

 

Keiko has been an incredible force for equality in our community. She has worked to support all of our kids through her countless volunteer hours on PTA and school district initiatives. Keiko worked with incarcerated children to help them and their families. She has been an active and insistent voice protecting children in our community and beyond from human trafficking. She pushed legislation locally to protect our kids from vaping and from systemic inequities in education. She has also been a force for community-building and joy. Her work on National Night Out made Belmont a tighter-knit and closer community than it ever would have been without her. Her sense of humor was inimitable.

We will miss her so much. 

 

Now is our turn to help her. Keiko was never focused on power-earning, or even willing to charge people market rates for her beautiful design work. Everyone was "friends and family" to her. Paul & Julian & Makenzie will be okay - as Julian said, they will be okay because of her. But death is an incredibly unexpected expense, and a large one. We are hoping to raise funds to cover the costs of her cremation and memorial. Anything raised over that will go to support Julian and Makenzie as they further their educations; this feels fitting in light of all who have benefitted from Keiko's long-time support of education in our community.

 

Any and all donations are helpful and deeply appreciated. Memorial details will be forthcoming after the family has had time to plan. 

 

Thanks everyone,

 

Hannah Heller

(neighbor and friend)